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reptile emotions august 18 2011 when thinking of reptiles the image that comes to the minds of most people can vary from a garter snake slithering through the grass to lizards of jurassic proportions roaming the earth the idea of bonding with such creatures may seem creepy or even impossible yet some people insist that their reptiles know them and enjoy being with them can reptiles feel or portray emotions generally reptiles do demonstrate basic emotions according to dr sharman hoppes clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences the main two are fear and aggression but they may also demonstrate pleasure when stroked or when offered food a snake that is feeling aggressive may warn you with a hiss states dr hoppes this can occur when you are forcing your attention on the snake and if you persist they may strike out typically snakes hiss or coil when they are feeling hostile but most pet snakes are not aggressive animals unless threatened a reptile that is feeling fear may simply try to get away but it can also exhibit actions similar to aggression for this reason it is a good idea to keep handling sessions with a new reptile to a minimum until it gets used to you otherwise you may scare it into striking at you a perceived threat it is better to have a good session without upsetting the animal that lasts two minutes than a longer session trying to force a reptile to accept you a more controversial emotion in reptiles is the concept of pleasure or even love many feel that they have not developed this emotion as it does not naturally benefit them however most reptiles do seem to recognize people who frequently handle and feed them i dont know if it is love says dr hoppes but lizards and tortoises appear to like some people more than others they also seem to show the most emotions as many lizards do appear to show pleasure when being stroked another interesting fact is that while many reptiles lay their eggs and then leave their young to fend for themselves some such as prehensile-tailed skinks form family groups and protect their young female alligators also stay with their young and will guard them for up to six months teaching them survival skills and vocalizing with them through a series of grunts whether this is due to a survival instinct or concern for their individual offspring is unknown when it comes to interactions with humans some reptiles do seem to enjoy their company a tortoise that enjoys being petted might stick its neck out or close it eyes and become still and calm during the interaction the same is true of lizards some reptiles do appear to enjoy human contact adds dr hoppes especially when food is offered many will respond to feeding times coming to certain people they associate with food and certainly most iguanas prefer certain people over others iguanas have individual personalities that can vary from tranquil and laid-back to aggressive and dominating the latter can be very difficult to live with and care for the more calm iguanas however tend to bond with their person but may only endure handling by that individual it is the rare iguana who is social with strangers many reptile owners believe that their personal reptiles do recognize the good intentions they have towards them others deem that their cold-blooded dependents only tolerate them when they have to and would prefer to be left alone by careful observation and handling of your reptiles you can determine which are more social and which may not be quite so impressed with having a human as a best friend about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu ↑ back to top print

chill out responsibly with your pets this summer august 11 2011 summer generally is a time for relaxation and fun in the sun short vacations can mean that you have more time to spend enjoying the company of your pet many people take advantage of the warm weather by making resolutions to get themselves and their animals into shape however when participating in exercise activities like walking or running with pets during the summer extra precautions need to be taken dr mark stickney clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences asserts that humans are not the only ones having to deal with the higher than average temperatures outside the animals know it is hot out states stickney they are doing things they normally wouldnt do to stay cool and thats an important thing to remember when were outside when they are riled up and having a good time they may forget how hot it is you need to monitor them and make sure they are not too hot taking frequent breaks like you would if you were out working in the heat is important for pets as well it is necessary to remember that although you may be used to handling the heat with no problem your pet especially if it has longer thicker hair or is overweight may not be faring as well if youre thirsty says stickney they are thirstier animals need plenty of access to fresh water you can even put ice cubes into it to make it colder summer does not have to mean a halt to normal exercise activities you participate in with your pet if rather than walking a circuit that takes you straight back to your house you enjoy walking your dog to a park and then resting there for a while just make sure to bring an extra bottle of water for your dog do not forget a bowl for it to drink out of as well also remember that the pavement is incredibly hot affirms stickney if they are not used to being outside they do not have thick foot pads and they could develop burns on their feet letting them walk on the grass instead of the concrete can help keep their foot pads from blistering a great summertime activity to participate in with your dog is anything that allows it to get into water where it can cool off it will still need to have clean drinking water available however along with a shady place that it can rest in when it gets out of the water swimming for a long time can be draining on a person; it can also have the same affect on a dog that is not used to the physical exertion if your pet does overdo it in the sun there are signs you can watch out for states stickney panting unresponsiveness very red whites of their eyes and bright pink reddish gums mean that your dog is very hot and needs a break if you notice your dog exhibiting any of these symptoms stop any activity immediately and allow the dog to get a drink and to cool off overall it is important to be smart and safe when going on outings or exercising with your pets during the summer monitor them closely and be prepared to step in at the first sign of heat stress take care of them like you would yourself in the heat and together you can have an enjoyable season pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

cattles summer needs august 4 2011 this year many southern states in the nation especially texas are experiencing the worst drought on record several farmers may resort to sell their cattle to keep their farms afloat during these hard economic and dry times according to dr kevin washburn associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) there are steps that owners can take to save money and ensure their cattle are staying healthy living off the weathered land the first thing to remember during the summer months is to provide adequate shade and clean water for cattle while this seems obvious trees are not as plentiful in some pastures and water sources are compromised because of the heat if trees are sparse on your land you can build loafing sheds for your cattle or there are commercially available free standing shades to provide escape from direct sunlight sheds or free standing shades are better than barns to protect cattle in the hot months explained washburn the higher the roof the better because it allows for wind to flow under for better cooling barns tend to be enclosed and dont allow for very much air flow standing water in a lake or tank may not be an adequate drinking source for your cattle especially in drought areas when the water levels fall and mud is present the water may become stagnant and unpalatable it is best to provide a water source that can be cleaned and refilled on a regular basis the best type of food for your cattle in the late and dry summer months is good quality grass hay if there is limited hay available owners can also feed cattle cubes as a supplement it is necessary to offer a food source like grass hay or cubes not only to meet nutritional needs but also because cattle may resort to eat the only green plants available which often are weeds many of these weeds unfortunately are toxic to livestock the most common poisonous pasture plants in the southern region of the united states are: coffee senna twin leaf senna pigweed curly dock oak leaves old acorns sneezeweed broomweed lobelia and silver leaf nightshade these toxic plants can be monitored and sprayed said washburn however be careful when spraying for weeds because the chemicals may make the toxic plants even more palatable actually increasing consumption if hay is not available washburn recommends contacting a producer co-operative as they have a network of sources where producers can purchase hay the downside to this method is the cost the hay sources are often far away requiring shipping at a premium price washburn suggests supplying balanced mineral mixes free choice and cattle cubes that are 20 to 40 percent protein this can help reduce the amount of hay required when supplies are limited in order to stave off starvation for your cattle and prepare for the dry months it is best to not overgraze when the pasture is producing and rains are heavy managing and storing hay when conditions are good allows for a plentiful supply however sometimes in extreme condition even the best planning may not be enough to survive during this long hot summer pastured cattle need adequate fresh water food sources and properly ventilated shade if there are any questions about dehydration or malnourishment consult your veterinarian or contact large animal clinical sciences at the cvm at 979-845-3541 pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

hot weather calls for cool care of your horse july 28 2011 in the good old summertime … its just plain old hot! for equestrian riding enthusiasts this may necessitate paying extra attention to your horses physical needs and changing your riding habits to avoid heat stress heat related illness such as heat stress can quickly become heat exhaustion if preventive measures are not taken notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences hot humid weather combined with over exertion and fluid loss can lead to heat stress signs of heat stress include dehydration elevated body temperature excessive sweating or no sweating accelerated heart and respiratory rates and sluggishness says mays to check for dehydration use your forefinger and thumb to pinch and pull the skin on the side of your horses neck; it should snap back in place when released if the skin is slow to form to the neck again your horse is dehydrated explains mays a horses normal body temperature range is 99 to 101 degrees f; body temperature above 103 f is cause for concern since 104 f and greater generally require medical attention additionally you should be aware of your horses pulse and respiration rates normal equine resting pulse rate is 32-44 beats per minute and respiration rate is usually 8-16 breaths per minute notes mays in addition to checking vital signs you can help your horse avoid heat stress this summer by providing clean fresh water good ventilation and shade also ride in the early morning or late evening when outdoor temperatures are cooler suggests mays adequate water intake is critical an average size horse needs about 10 gallons of fresh water per day in the summertime a physically active adult horse may consume more than 20 gallons of water daily notes mays water loss from sweating also means that electrolytes (sodium potassium and calcium) are lost and these need to be replaced after exercising free access to minerals and salt will help your horse maintain its electrolyte balance your veterinarian can advise you with instructions on ways to mix electrolytes into your horses water or feed your horses stall should be well ventilated with good air circulation regular fans help circulate air inside the building be sure that fans and electrical cords are out of your horses reach and safely distanced from water sources cautions mays for pastured horses provide shade via trees or loafing sheds during and after physical activity your horse moves warm interior blood through veins and into capillaries at the skins surface explains mays when the skin of your horse is cooled this surface blood is cooled also and thus the body temperature of your horse decreases a cool water bath will help your overheated horse dissipate excess heat faster the water conducts the heat from the surface of the horse and water evaporation from the skin cools your horses body standing the horse in cool water also helps to dissipate heat through the hooves heat related illness can be a very serious condition for your horse and should not be taken casually cautions mays a well-informed horse owner is capable of preventing overheating from occurring when he/she knows the signs of heat stress and what care to provide in the good old summertime continue to ride your horse but be aware of the signs of heat stress tailor you riding time to humidity and temperature conditions provide ample fresh clean water and additional sources of electrolytes set up fans to help circulate air around your horse also remember the rider exposes him/herself to potential heat-related issues take appropriate precautions for yourself as well! pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

emergencies july 21 2011 minutes can mean the difference between life and death when an emergency arises and a walk around the block or a hike through the woods may be dangerous or even prove fatal if you lack the right knowledge to care for a pet in an emergency situation dr sonya gordon associate professor at texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences gives pet owners some helpful tips on taking care of an animal when time is limited there are many every day activities that can be hazardous for pets if the right action is not quickly taken one of the most common emergency situations is when a pet is involved in a car accident any time an animal collides with a motorized vehicle it should be taken immediately to a veterinarian even for what appears to be minor bumps and bruises dogs and cats do not have the ability to tell us where it hurts and there may be internal problems that cannot be noticed by the owner said gordon when the damage caused by an accident leaves the pet immobile gordon suggests using a large towel or heavy blanket held tightly to simulate a stretcher to carry the animal never pick up an injured animal and hold it unless it is very small and can be sufficiently restrained it is important to be careful when working around injured animals that are in pain because they may accidentally bite or become aggressive even toward their owner remember to keep the pet warm and use clean fabric like a towel a bandage or a t-shirt to cover any open wounds this will help keep the wound clean and allow the blood to clot to help limit bleeding if there is profuse bleeding from a wound firmly apply a clean towel or some other fabric to the area and apply continuous pressure it is best not to use a tourniquet but if one is applied release it every ten minutes gordon added pet emergencies can also occur on routine hiking and camping trips and immediate veterinary care may not be available if a pet receives an open wound during the journey use clean tepid water to cleanse the area dishwashing liquid detergents astringents and alcohol are too abrasive for use on open wounds and can actually cause additional damage to the tissue a veterinarian should treat any infections that arise gordon advises against administering any human pain relievers or other medications to an animal unless directed by a veterinarian because many human drugs are not safe for animals and can lead to severe complications such as ulcers liver failure or even death while exploring the great outdoors be wary of snakes if an owner suspects a pet has been bitten by a venomous snake examine the animal closely and try to identify the location of the bite and if possible the type of snake (take a picture with your phone if possible) this information is extremely helpful to the veterinarian when deciding how to care for the pet face and neck bites are by far the most serious and require immediate veterinary care because severe swelling in this area can cause difficulty breathing ice packs will help control the swelling and blood vessel dilation that allows the venom to spread said gordon lakes and the ocean can present emergencies if a pet falls in and is not a strong swimmer it is best to purchase a lifejacket for your animal to wear when participating in water activities such as boating most lifejackets come with a handle on the back allowing the owner to pick up the animal safely and easily from the water if it falls in gordon noted if traveling to a natural setting especially during the summer months it is best to bring a lot of water as well as a leash even if the pet is well trained to verbal commands pets and humans both require a lot of water and leashes provide important restraint in case an owner needs to control their pet in a dangerous situation said gordon gordon explained that dangerous situations can arise outdoors but also inside a house hazardous chemicals and all medications should be kept out of reach at all times pets are like young children and the same precautions should be taken with both advised gordon being aware of potential dangerous situations and keeping mans best friend in mind when emergency strikes is an important part of being a pet owner and a special way of reciprocating the love that they provide every day pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

the human-animal bond july 14 2011 humans and animals have interacted together for thousands of years from the very first people who decided to domesticate the dog to the present day pioneers that choose to keep goats and pigs in their houses animals have played huge roles in the lives of many people while early civilization saw them as mainly a food and fiber source or a hunting tool modern society views them as companions family and best friends the human-animal bond concept emerged in veterinary medicine as recently as the last few decades and it has caused the companion animal industry to explode according to dr m a crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences the inclusion of pets in many non-traditional activities such as family ceremonies photos trips and gatherings drives part of the pet industry today many of todays pets are now considered part of the family and are treated as family members explains crist for example some clients have pet chickens that live in their houses the chickens wear little pantaloons to catch their droppings in the house so that they do not make a mess chickens are actually becoming quite popular as family pets many pet owners include their pets in their day-to-day activities and a lot of them include their pets in social outings some people raise and show pets as part of their livelihood while others do so as a sport the human-animal bond has definitely become stronger and more apparent says crist society is experiencing more legal issues with pets such as pets having guardians becoming heirs to large family fortunes or becoming disputed over in divorces people are wanting to make sure their pets are provided for in the event of their deaths causing the inception of companion animal centers that care for pets when their owners pass away or are no longer able to care for them an example of such a facility is the stevenson companion animal life care center in college station texas where animals are provided life-long care in a home-like environment what has caused this shift in the way people view animals in the past most dogs and cats were kept outside on the family farm or ranch states crist the dogs were sometimes used to help work the cattle or guard the sheep and the cats were kept around to keep the mice or snake population under control these working dogs and cats were usually fed table scraps and taken care of in passing when a veterinarian came out on a call to check a farm animal as populations changed and urbanization began dogs and cats started moving into the house and the human-pet bond thus began to grow and strengthen additionally the bond developed in food and farm animals as well youth began to get involved in ffa and 4-h programs in schools and became involved in raising and showing sheep steers goats pigs chickens rabbits and other food animals for competition explains crist many of these youth enjoyed the companionship of the farm animals that they raised and showed and then as adults they purchased farm animals to have simply as personal pets as humans and animals began living together the bond between them became more emotional traditional uses of animals were questioned and modified to satisfy the want of companionship as veterinarians we are seeing a trend toward some farm pets being kept in the house as personal pets reveals crist new miniature breeds or designer breeds are becoming popular so that these pets can be kept in smaller spaces for example the miniature micro pig or teacup pig is a pig smaller than the potbelly pig and is becoming a popular house-hold pet again this is an instance of how far food animals have come in regards to their relationship with humans years before food animals were raised simply for that- food- and did not have long lives asserts crist today some food animals are kept as pets and will live to be quite old as veterinarians we are now learning some of the diseases and issues that go along with geriatric (older) food and farm animals we have improved greatly at pain management for these animals and we have a better understanding of the pharmacokinetics (action of drugs in the body over a period of time) of the medications we can use in these animals snakes birds dogs horses goats cats- for all pet species there are humans that love them pet owners want their pets to live long lives so that they can have as much time with them as possible this simple need for companionship has helped to greatly improve diagnostics in veterinary medicine as many of the diagnostics and treatments that are available to humans are now available to animals too owners want the best for their pets and in return they receive a life-long friend that might bear a ring in a wedding pose in the family photo or follow them room-to-room while wearing pantaloons about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

cancer in canines july 7 2011 cancer is a debilitating disease affecting millions of americans daily the same is true for animals as approximately 50 percent of all dogs over the age of 10 will be diagnosed with some form of cancer being aware of the possibility of cancer in your canine and having your veterinarian perform regular checkups can help to ensure that you are doing the best for your dog according to dr heather wilson assistant professor in oncology at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) the most common types of cancer in dogs is lymphoma (tumor of the lymph nodes) osteosarcoma (tumor of the bones) and mast cell tumors (skin tumor) lymphoma most commonly affects the lymph nodes but can also affect other parts of the body such as the liver spleen bone marrow gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system explains wilson this disease is generally not curable but is very treatable with chemotherapy osteosarcoma is a bone tumor that affects the limbs of large and giant breed dogs most often says wilson these tumors are again generally not curable but can be treated with amputation of the affected limb and chemotherapy does increase survival however most dogs will eventually succumb to the disease if it spreads to the lungs mast cell tumors commonly occur on the skin and they are the most common type of malignant skin tumors in dogs most of these tumors are removed and cured with surgery however some are very aggressive and are so likely to spread that chemotherapy must be integrated into the treatment protocol after surgery other tumors may require radiation therapy if they are not completely removed during surgery any dog can get cancer but certain breeds such as the golden retrievers boxers german shepherds rottweilers and bernese mountain dogs are predisposed to many forms of cancer notes wilson as cancer is so common in dogs annual geriatric exams with a veterinarian are strongly encouraged after a cancer diagnosis and treatment wilson recommends monitoring the pet for recurrence every two to six months for three years the frequency of the checkups depends on the type of tumor it is important to regularly perform at-home physical examinations on your pet you should look for any lumps specifically around the lymph nodes in the neck however not all tumors are visible; therefore regular veterinary visits are crucial to guarantee your pets health while cancer can be extremely stressful for owners and dogs the good news is that with the amount of resources and specialists that are now available to treat cancer in pets owners now have the power to make educated and responsible decisions to get their companion animals through this illness in recent decades veterinary medicine has progressively advanced to offer technology and treatment of human quality for pets to help aid in cancer treatment and other illnesses the diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment center (dictc) at the cvm is one example of the new state of the art facilities now available for companion animals the dictc is set to open its doors in the next couple of months and it will greatly improve the quality of care animal patients receive due to the highly advanced capabilities of the new technology the dictc will house advanced imaging equipment that will help us find and monitor cancer at a much earlier stage than was previously possible explains wilson the earlier we can identify cancer the better we can treat it additionally the tomotherapy unit will allow us to very precisely treat hard to reach tumors in animals that we were previously unable to treat because of their location such as brain or lung tumors additionally we can treat multiple sites in the same animal with relative ease allowing us to potentially treat dogs with radiation or multiple mast cell tumors when previously this was not possible cancers prevalent nature makes it an important topic to research and learn more about however cancer can be very complicated and hard to comprehend to learn more about cancer in dogs and how to treat it please visit the oncology section at the cvm website at vethospitaltamuedu/small-animal/oncology/ pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

shoo fly … dont bother me!- june 30 2011 shoo fly dont bother me! summer time is prime time for increased numbers of various types of flies that can irritate your horse and you put away that fly swatter because there are better measures that can be taken to limit the number of stable flies stable flies horse flies black flies deer flies sand flies and biting midge flies so many flies they all can bite your horse draw blood and possibly cause allergic reactions notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences flies will probably not be completely eliminated from your horse stable states mays but there are control measures that can be put in place to decrease the fly population in your horse facilities since stable flies are one of the most common summer pests your horse will encounter ill focus on this fly stable flies feed on the blood of warm blooded animals explains mays they pierce the skin with their mouth parts lacerate the skin and then inject saliva which contains an anticoagulant that keeps the blood flowing the bite can be painful and irritating depending on your horses skin sensitivity there could also be a reaction to the bite stable flies usually feed during the early morning hours and again in the late afternoon they also feed selectively preferring the legs and belly to other areas of your horses body the female stable fly requires blood meals to produce viable eggs and surprisingly eggs are deposited in decaying animal and plant waste generally not in fresh manure notes mays fly larvae can develop in stable waste that is a combination of damp straw and manure or under hay bales that are in contact with moist soil in the warm summer the entire life cycle from egg to adult can be completed in three to six weeks the hot summer temperatures promote increased fly numbers but sound sanitation practices in conjunction with other controls can limit stable fly populations says mays reduce larvae development by eliminating the environment where they can develop spread manure and stable bedding regularly so that it will dry out fast as possible modify drainage areas so that excess water is eliminated when stable flies finish feeding they seek a place to rest and digest their blood meal this instinctive habit makes way for control of adult flies with residual insecticides sprayed on stable surfaces explains mays sides of buildings (inside and outside) stall surfaces and fences are all areas where flies can be found resting residual insecticides can provide fly control over a period of time be sure to follow label recommendations for use mixing and spraying sprays and dusts may be used to protect your horse but these usually have short residual effect notes mays repellents containing deet are better suited for mosquitoes rather than flies the number of flies produced by a pair of stable flies and their offspring in the summer months is in the millions therefore it is best to establish good fly control practices a sound sanitation program is the first step needed to decrease stable fly populations at your horse facilities it will take a combination of controls to decrease stable fly numbers you need to implement measures to decrease fly breeding and larvae hatching any stable flies that make it through these stages should be chemically controlled with residual insecticides and direct animal applications explains mays knowledge of some basic stable fly facts in addition to good stable management practices will help you to have a winning chance to limit the pesky stable flies pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

birdy in the window june 23 2011 looking for a pet that does not need to be housebroken groomed or trained how about a flock of them if so consider making the front or backyard a haven for wild birds with very little effort one can enjoy the sights and sounds of these feathered friends all year long the best way to attract birds to a yard is by providing plenty of food and water most commercial feeders will work fine as long as they are sturdy easy to clean and have adequate drainage advised dr ian tizard director of the schubot exotic bird health center at the college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences at texas a&m university tizard says where the feeder is placed is more important than what type of feeder it is no bird wants to take the risk of getting ambushed feeders should be near enough to foliage that birds might use it to flee from predators said tizard however birds will be wary of feeders and baths placed too close to bushes since predators can easily spring from nearby foliage in a surprise attack birdhouses should be placed in a way that mimics the location of the birds natural habitat tizard explained for as many types of feeders that are available there are at least as many kinds of birdseed tizard recommends sunflower seed for attracting the widest variety and most colorful birds including cardinals and finches some mixes are designed to attract only certain birds so consult the package labeling for this information keeping birdfeeders baths and houses clean is also crucial to keeping healthy happy birds visiting the backyard cleaning feeders and houses will keep harmful mold from growing in them wood feeders which can be difficult to clean are not usually recommended said tizard supplying birdfeeders and baths causes more birds to congregate than would under normal circumstances explained tizard for this reason disease may spread more quickly but keeping feeders and baths clean can minimize the spread of disease tizard suggests using a solution of one part household bleach to two or three parts water for effectively cleaning feeders and baths at the very least they should be cleaned once a year but may require cleaning more often where exposure to the elements has fouled the seed and/or water birdhouses are usually vacated during the winter months so youll want to clean them out then to prepare for springs new tenants hummingbirds require special considerations according to tizard the best way to attract hummingbirds is to design a garden full of colorful fragrant flowers it is okay to provide hummingbird feeders with homemade nectar as a supplement but be aware that the males can be territorial tizard explained providing more than one feeder will ease the aggression associated with hummingbird males who will claim one as his own since homemade nectar can spoil it is important to keep a fresh supply in clean feeders also it is important to note that feeders placed too close to windows may actually be more harmful than helpful birds are often injured or killed flying into windows when the birds mistake the reflection in the glass for sky you can reduce the chances of window injuries by placing stickers or other reflection-marring materials on your windows silhouette bird stickers can often be purchased where birdseed is sold these window stickers intimidate smaller birds keeping them from flying into a window it is relatively inexpensive to create an environment that will attract wild birds by simply seeing to their needs a backyard can become a playground that is literally for the birds pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

hoof care and the farrier june 16 2011 horse care can be quite complex the purchase of a horse alone can be costly enough but horses have certain requirements that need to be met that generally far outweigh the cost of the horse itself one important facet of horse care in addition to proper nutrition and regular veterinary care is the maintenance of the hooves a science that is usually performed by a specialist in farriery according to jason wilson-maki farrier at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences horses need their feet trimmed every four to eight weeks many factors need to be considered regarding your horses foot care schedule states wilson-maki weanlings (baby horses that have recently been removed from their mothers) grow roughly half an inch of hoof in a month while geriatric (senior) horses may grow only one-fourth of an inch mature horses generally grow three-eighths of an inch other factors that affect growth include time of the year and physical activity horses in high level training may need to be shod every four to five weeks while older pasture pets may need to be trimmed less often such as every eight weeks the actual schedule for your horses feet should be dictated by its needs ideally the foot should not be allowed to grow longer than three-eighths to half an inch away from its trimmed length explains wilson-maki a farrier can tell you if your horse requires shoes they are generally necessary if wear exceeds growth or if a horse needs foot protection to perform its job some horses have tender feet and may need shoes if they appear foot sore in their natural environment some other good hoof care practices besides regular feet trimming are providing clean stabling conditions and regular turnout horses should not be kept in excessively wet conditions as the feet can become overly hydrated which can lead to abscesses or infections like thrush and white line disease very dry and hard feet however can chip and crack so some moisture is needed picking your horses feet several times a week and inspecting them often may keep small issues from becoming bigger problems general good husbandry practices go a long way towards maintaining healthy feet adds wilson-maki but in very dry conditions it may be helpful to overflow the water trough a few times a week in order to keep feet moisturized besides removing excess growth what else can a farrier do with a horses feet in addition to restoring order to overgrown structures a farrier can also use some form of appliance to support a hoof protect a hoof alter the stresses upon a hoof or provide traction says wilson-maki farriery is only a component of the correction of hoof problems; a definitive examination and diagnosis by a veterinarian can greatly enhance the chances of a positive outcome should your horse come up lame you can utilize the skills of two specialists for the creation of a well thought-out long term plan whereas the farrier trims and protects the horses feet with appliances diagnosing and treating lameness is the area of expertise for the veterinarian often times a veterinarian and farrier team is the best avenue for resolving lameness issues in a horse finally there are a lot of supplements available that promise to give your horse better stronger feet as with many human supplements it is a good idea to check and make sure they actually perform like they are claimed to most supplements appear to be ‘multivitamins for the horses feet asserts wilson-maki they should use what they need and fertilize with the excess if you have questions about supplements it would be a good idea to consult with your veterinarian the care of your horses hooves is essential to caring for it as a whole a lame horse may not be able to be ridden and may also have trouble doing something as simple as walking around its pasture by keeping a regular schedule with your farrier and monitoring your horse as often as possible you are ensuring that it will live the best quality of life possible for the both of you! about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

animal hoarding: identifying the disease june 9 2011 the welfare of animals is very important in american society and american families own more pets today than ever before according to the 2011-2012 american pets products association national pet owners survey 62 percent of american households own a pet which equates to 729 million homes unfortunately of those pets there are hundreds of new animal hoarding cases each year animal hoarding is a prevalent topic in mainstream television today due to the popular cable network shows even though the public is more aware of this issue it is still a very cryptic and confusing topic for many to comprehend the lack of studies and information about this disease make it a hard one to diagnose and treat there have been a variety of definitions for animal hoarding produced over the years but there are common themes in how it is typically conceptualized says dr derek bergeron psychologist for texas a&m university counseling services and satellite clinician at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) generally animal hoarding is indicated by the accumulation of a large number of animals overwhelming a persons ability to provide minimal standards of nutrition sanitation and veterinary care typically failure to acknowledge the deteriorating condition of the animals (including disease starvation and even death) and the household environment (severe overcrowding very unsanitary conditions) is demonstrated similarly there is typically a failure to recognize the negative effect of the collection on the hoarders own health and well-being and on the well-being of any other household members according to bergeron animal hoarders can cut across many demographics however some studies suggest that animal hoarders are more likely to be female elderly isolated and on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum also most hoarders have been identified with a comorbid mental health condition such as depression or a panic disorder as the group of people likely to be animal hoarders is so diverse it is also hard to decipher their motives and to put them into distinct groups the best attempt made by researchers is to place the hoarders into three groups: overwhelmed caregiver rescue hoarder and exploiter hoarder the overwhelmed caregiver generally arises out of a dramatic event such as the loss of a loved one economic hardship or a health scare the individual may already have many animals and cannot take care of them over time or will choose to take on more animals to mask the pain and to avoid dealing with the situation the overwhelmed caregiver type is likely to be more situational and these individuals typically have more insight into the situation notes bergeron they understand that there is a problem which is why they feel overwhelmed these individuals generally feel a strong attachment to their animal which makes addressing the situation more difficult for them rescue hoarders feel that they have a mission in life to save and protect animals these individuals are often actively engaged in rescue work and they may even own a shelter rescue hoarders often believe that they are the only people who can adequately care for their animals and feel that animals would die without them says bergeron these hoarders have a strong need for control and do feel in control of the situation despite the problems that exist the exploiter hoarders generally lack empathy for people and animals and are indifferent to the harm they cause their main concern is to be in control exploiter hoarders do not feel a strong attachment to their animals unlike the other two hoarder categories explains bergeron rather their hoarding behaviors are motivated by a need for control they have a strong need to feel dominant and to be the expert hoarding animals is the outlet they have found to meet all of their needs animal hoarding does not happen overnight it is a behavior that develops over time and people continue this behavior because it serves a role for them the function hoarding serves is typically related to regulating emotional needs and very likely involves other mental health problems most hoarders do not recognize their behavior as irregular however the hoarders who do recognize their behaviors as atypical the overwhelmed caregivers will hide their behavior out of shame and fear of possible consequences other hoarders may choose to hide their behavior even though they dont recognize their hoarding is dangerous or different the individuals who are not aware of their disease may not necessarily believe that they are doing something ‘wrong but they may appreciate that there are consequences if other people discover their behavior notes bergeron thus some individuals hide their behavior because they desire to continue hoarding animals it is important to identify the dangerous consequences for pets that animal hoarding can lead to the nature of hoarding leads to deficits in basic areas of care such as providing food medical care and attending to sanitation says bergeron thus hoarding can lead to starvation lack of medical treatment and increased risk of disease transmission hoarding can be very dangerous for the animal increased animal suffering and death are potential consequences if hoarding behaviors persist and are chronic to this date there have been no controlled studies done on treating animal hoarding therefore there are no recognized treatments with strong empirical support for addressing animal hoarding overall anecdotal evidence suggests that hoarding is a difficult problem to treat explains bergeron hoarding will likely require longer term therapy part of the complexity of working with hoarders relates to the likelihood of dual diagnosis with other mental health problems this means that multiple problems will need to be addressed to increase the likelihood that the individual will be able to make a change in the long-term however given that there are treatments with strong empirical support for other common mental health problems it may be easier to seek treatment for these other problems first if you suspect a friend or a neighbor is an animal hoarder ask your veterinarian for assistance veterinarians will know a responsible agency in the area to contact to get help for the individual and their pets pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

topical wound care for horses june 2 2011 sooner or later its bound to happen your horse comes in with a wound that needs care and attention do you know the best first aid for your horses needs a wound to your horses body can take the form of an abrasion puncture or full thickness skin cut notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences the body has its own marvelous mechanisms for healing injured tissue states mays following the trauma the body sends white blood cells to the injured site to clean up the damaged cells and fight infection these white blood cells rid the wound of dead cells and bacteria this expelling of non-viable cells can be seen as either a clear or slightly yellow discharge the first thought at the sight of this oozing is to dry it up however the white blood cells need moisture to continue their healing work explains mays if additional moisture is needed an antibiotic topical ointment can be applied the body also responds to the wound with inflammation notes mays the cells that respond to the injured tissue do so to increase blood flow which facilitates clean up and repair of the wound this extra flow of blood brings swelling redness and heat to the injured area therefore inflammation should be controlled but not suppressed the body continues to remove contaminants while there is inflammation explains mays as decontamination continues cells that produce repair material move into the wound area then granulation tissue forms excessive granulation can result in proud flesh when the new tissue extends beyond the surface of the wound margins moisture does stimulate granulation and excessive moisture often results in proud flesh which prohibits continuation of the healing process if the wound appears to have excessive granulation tissue the aid of veterinary care is often needed wound treatment may include a combination of antibiotics to control infection anti-inflammatory injections for pain management and ointments for wound medication notes mays in treating any horse wound the first step should be to clean the injured flesh states mays flushing the wound with water or saline solution will help remove dirt and bacteria from the cut saline solution can be made by dissolving two tablespoons of table salt in one gallon of distilled water wounds that are exceptionally dirty may need an antimicrobial wash which contains iodine this wash will kill surface bacteria while cleansing the wound call your veterinarian if the wound is over a joint involves bone/ligaments or pulls apart when your horse moves explains mays a wound to your horses leg especially near a joint where there is motion should be referred to your veterinarian if your horse receives a below-the-knee leg wound it is best to seek medical assistance since leg tissue mass is limited and there can be contamination from dirt bandaging may not be necessary for some cuts and abrasions however leg wounds may need bandaging to reduce dirt contamination and skin motion so that healing can occur notes mays a bandage keeps topical medication on the wound also the light pressure of the bandage suppresses excess outgrowth of skin and promotes less scaring small wounds may go undetected cautions mays they may not be seen before contamination and infection occur since tetanus is always a threat be sure that your horse receives a tetanus vaccination and stays current horses are prone to injury knowing basic first aid treatments to care for a horses wound will allow you to assess the situation and determine the best treatment the right medication administered at the proper time by the proper person can facilitate the natural healing process of your horses body pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

raccoons may 26 2011 the late night ruckus coming from the back porch may not be a robber or even the friendly neighborhood cat raccoons love to filter through the trash and can frequently be seen doing so during the late hours of the night however fascinating this may be experts advise people to stay away from cute little rocky the raccoon homeowners should use caution when they see raccoons in their neighborhood said dr alice blue-mclendon a professor in the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences at texas a&m university although they are not inherently vicious they can carry a number of diseases including rabies and can attack humans and pets if provoked explained blue-mclendon raccoons are one of the most recognizable creatures in the united states and are found in almost every major habitat they have the unique ability to adapt to the changing environment and to navigate through storm sewers that lead to residential neighborhoods by surviving on a highly diverse diet ranging from acorns to fish they often cause problems for fruit and vegetable gardeners their characteristic bandit mask may be the least visible sign of their troublesome behavior raccoons living in neighborhoods have been known to rummage through trash cans pillage gardens and even enter households through pet doors they have been seen taking up residence in barns attics chimneys and the crawl spaces under buildings and homes often leaving a mess and destruction behind aside from the property damage they cause raccoons can carry rabies as well as an intestinal parasite that can cause serious brain damage and death if ingested said blue-mclendon this zoonotic parasite called baylisascaris procyonis or raccoon roundworm is contracted through feces if ingested larvae can hatch migrate through tissue and can invade the brain and eye area causing serious injury young children who still orally explore their surroundings or those simply playing in areas where fecal matter may be accidentally ingested may be affected blue-mclendon advises against keeping raccoons as pets due to the increasing prevalence of rabies aside from the risk of disease it is incredibly hard to tame these animals; they have sharp teeth and claws that can inflict pain and injury explained blue-mclendon for people who live in areas frequented by raccoons making sure family members wash their hands regularly when playing or working outdoors is a good precaution to take to protect a home and yard from the destruction left behind by raccoons trash cans should be secured and if possible kept in the garage or shed until the morning of removal chicken wire can be used to close crawl spaces under homes and entries into attics locks can be placed on pet doors and caps can be installed on chimneys the nuisance and damage caused by raccoons can be minimized when homeowners understand the behaviors of these animals said blue-mclendon like other urban wildlife species raccoons are very mobile and will usually move on in a few weeks however if homeowners find their patience growing thin neighborhood raccoons can be safely encouraged to relocate with the help of an animal control specialist about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

sun exposure and skin may 19 2011 summer time generally means vacations water and a lot of fun in the sun however the same concerns that affect people including sunburn can also cause problems for pets as the weather warms up many people take to bathing their pets outside it seems like a good idea as pets may dry faster and cause less water mess however according to dr alison diesel lecturer in small animal dermatology at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences it is important to remember that water coming initially out of the hose may be very hot one of the problems we see related to hot weather is thermal burns from hoses that have been sitting outside in the sun all day says diesel make sure to let the water run through the hose for several minutes before bathing your dog if it is too hot on your own hand it will be too hot for the dogs skin it is well known that staying out in the sun too long without any type of protection can cause sunburns in people the same is true of pets especially those that are lightly pigmented or have thinner coats white animals animals that like to spend time sunbathing and even certain parts on every animal such as the nose (especially pink noses) ears or abdomen are especially prone to becoming sunburned in order to prevent their animals from becoming sunburned one of the things that people can do is to apply sunscreen on lightly pigmented or thinly furred areas before the animal goes outside or lays in a sunbeam to bathe states diesel as with people the sunscreen will need to be applied once every couple of hours sunscreens that have high spfs (50+) and that are safe for infants are safe for a dog or a cat another thing an owner can do notes diesel is prevent sunbathing during the peak times of the day or when the sun is at its strongest this is typically from the early afternoon until evening cats that sit in windowsills particularly need to be monitored as with people one of the main concerns with pets getting a sunburn besides the initial burn itself is the possibility of cancer developing from the sun exposure if you notice a change in the appearance of your pets skin including increased redness raised skin legions bumps or wounds your pet needs to be evaluated by its veterinarian actinic keratosis a condition that causes raised red flat-topped areas of skin that may have a dry appearance is associated with increased sun exposure and may progress into cancer in the future if not addressed warns diesel as the thinly furred parts of animals are the highest risk areas for becoming sunburned these are the areas where this condition is often noted an additional problem exacerbated by sun exposure is discoid lupus an immune-mediated skin disease of the nose some dog breeds that are particularly affected by this are huskies malamutes and other northern breeds and shepherds explains diesel the normally dark colored nose loses its pigment and turns pink it can also become crusted and ulcerate; this may be noted as bleeding by the owners the decreased pigment puts the nose more at risk for sunburn it is important that dogs diagnosed with this condition have infant-safe sunscreen applied several times daily to avoid intensifying the disease while lighter-pigmented animals are more prone to developing burns darker colored animals are not without their own concerns according to studies in cattle that observed the effects of hide color and the risk of heat stress darker pigmented animals were more at risk for heat stress since their coat did not reflect as much light as lighter colored animals explains dr diesel this does not usually cause skin problems; however darker animals are more at risk for developing the side effects of heat stress which include over-heating and heat stroke these are emergency situations that require immediate evaluation by a veterinarian in spite of the many risks the rising temperatures bring with them it is possible for you and your pets to enjoy the summer out of doors provided the proper precautions are taken to avoid sunburn and other dangers train yourself to reapply your pets sunscreen each time you reapply yours and make sure your outdoor pets have access to fresh water and shady places to find some respite from the suns rays check the temperature of the water before bathing your pet out of doors and remember to enjoy your vacations with your best friend! pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

precautionary travel tips may 12 2011 most summer days are filled with outdoor activities and times spent on vacation as the summer months starts to approach it is necessary to understand the types of diseases that may affect your pets when they travel so if youre the outdoor type and you like to take your pet with you your pet may be bringing home more than memories as you venture through fields and streams when traveling there are some diseases your pet may encounter says dr leon russell professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences if there is a possibility of contact with mosquitoes ticks or stagnant water during your travels russell says to take certain precautions if dogs and cats come into contact with mosquitoes they could be subjected to heartworm disease heartworm disease poses a threat to pets across the united states because no state is entirely heartworm-free russell explains in areas where heartworm disease is highly endemic in dogs up to 20 percent of the cats may also have the disease heartworm preventative medicine is available but pets should be tested before they receive it possible contact with wild animals could expose your pet to rabies effective vaccination of dogs and cats to prevent rabies is available and should always be kept current says russell rabies is transmitted by a bite from an infected animal and the center for disease control (cdc) states that more than 90 percent of all animal cases reported annually to the cdc now occur in wildlife water activities are fun but certain waters may be infested with bacteria that could cause harm to your pet according to russell mud muddy water and stagnant water are prime sources for exposure to leptospira this bacterial organism can enter the body through cuts mucous membranes eyes or by ingesting contaminated water russell encourages a yearly vaccination with the appropriate strain of leptospirosis vaccine to reduce your pets chance of contracting this disease giardiasis is another disease that is caused by a waterborne parasite found in untreated water such as creeks and ponds it also occurs in mountainous areas where water supplies have become contaminated by infected animal feces chlorination of surface water will not prevent this disease cautions russell presently there are drugs to treat giardiasis but none to prevent this intestinal disease borreliosis or lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacteria that is spread by the bite of an infected tick and the disease is endemic in some areas of the united states explains russell symptoms include fever rash listlessness muscle stiffness lack of appetite and in severe cases arthritic-type joint pain the best method of prevention is to avoid tick infested woods brush and tall grass russell believes highly effective tick control products such as sprays collars and spot-on treatments are available through your veterinarian annual vaccination of your dog against the lyme disease is recommended if you live in or plan to visit endemic lyme disease areas in the united states check with your veterinarian about the need for the vaccination of your pets russell suggests that once you return home your pet should visit the veterinarian for examination to make sure no internal or external parasites were picked up while traveling an examination is important because worms can hide and they may not be detected until they cause a clinical disease russell adds ticks can be too small to be easily seen by the untrained eye they must be eliminated before they transmit diseases such as lyme disease tularemia and rocky mountain spotted fever also avoid environments with ticks and mosquitoes (dawn and dusk) and allow your pet to swim only in clear flowing water such as rivers or lakes notes russell be sure to bypass ponds or tanks time spent traveling with pets is important but it is even more important to take the necessary precautions during vacation to avoid any pitfalls when you return home pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

horse summer dermatitis may 5 2011 sweet… as a modern term denotes pleasure and enjoyment however for a horse sweet itch can be anything but sweet… sweet itch also known as summer eczema or equine dermatitis is one of several seasonal allergies that your horse may encounter notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences equine dermatitis can have varying causes explains mays allergens may irritant your horses skin but viruses and bacteria may also manifest themselves as dermatitis these foreign agents can cause inflammatory conditions in the skin and may affect your horses hair coat equine sweet itch is a seasonal allergic skin condition that can be caused by fly bites or midge bites horses that suffer from sweet itch have developed an allergy to these bites insects flourish in the summer and horses may have sensitivities to insect bites notes mays in particular black flies known as buffalo gnats can seek horses as hosts these flies feed on the blood of mammals and are attracted to hosts by smell heat and sight they prefer the hosts head hair and ears but will also bite any skin that is exposed the female black flies are blood feeders explains mays the fly bites by cutting into the skin and feeding on the pooled blood anticoagulants injected into the feeding sight cause an allergic reaction black flies feed during the day so stable animals during the day when fly populations may be more abundant fly repellents applied to the chest belly and ears can be effective if applied daily says mays cloth coverings fitted over horses ears may be used for additional protection coverings may also be used to protect your horses eyes and head allergic dermatitis can result from the black fly bite states mays antigens in their saliva can cause allergic reactions additionally the black fly bite can become painful and itchy as blisters form therefore protecting the face and ears from flies eliminates a major source of irritation for your horse equine dermatitis will usually result in symptoms such as scratching biting affected area crusts hair coat damage or loss flaky dandruff and thickened skin explains mays the itchy skin can be further irritated when the horse rubs the area (on fences or stalls) to the point of hair loss and scabbed skin this is when secondary bacteria can enter the skin and cause infection sweet itch is commonly seen in 4 to 6 year old horses notes mays repeated exposure to the allergen in this case fly bite is required for the allergy to develop to help reduce the incidence of sweet itch begin preventative measures before fly season is in full force suggests mays use a fan in your horses stall the constant airflow deters flies from lighting and biting if possible place fine-mesh screens over barn openings to prevent flies from entering stalls install automated insecticide mist systems to help control fly populations consult your local veterinarian for the best insecticide to use in your stables and on your horse black fly stable fly horse fly and midge bites all can cause allergic skin reactions in horses corticosteroids are the most useful treatment for controlling these skin allergies notes mays this anti-inflammatory helps stop the itching so that the skin can heal however there may be steroid side-effects in horses so they must only be prescribed by your veterinarian if your horse has an annual encounter with summer sweet itch help him to manage the itch by taking preventative measures to lessen the severity of an annoying allergy pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

boarding a pet april 28 2011 sometimes you may find yourself in the position of needing to leave your animals for a few days if you cannot find a sitter to care for your pets in your home you may want to consider boarding them at a kennel and since there are more than 9 000 boarding kennels in the united states and canada there is probably one near you fees can range from $12 to $45 a day depending on the facility the type of services offered and other factors while boarding a pet may seem like a simple procedure there are still some questions you might want to ask says dr alice blue-mclendon clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences a good way to find out who the best boarders are is usually by word of mouth blue-mclendon believes people tend to be picky about their pets and they know who the good boarders are and which ones to avoid blue-mclendon says a prospective boarder should try to tour a facility before boarding the pet look to see if the facility is clean she advises also inquire about temperature control whether 24-hour care is available and if the facility allows multiple animals from the same household to be in the same holding area also are cats kept in a separate area away from dogs if not they could experience some trauma in addition is there proper security at the facility to keep intruders out and your pet from escaping is there adequate lighting at the facility and is the bedding for the animal sufficient for its needs if the owner is to be away for an extended time blue-mclendon says its a good idea to ask how often the animals get exercise or some form of entertainment dogs will usually enjoy a brisk walk she says but some facilities may not have the manpower for such activity parasites can often be a problem for some boarding facilities and the diseases they carry can be harmful to your pet blue-mclendon adds a common ailment associated with boarding of animals is bordetella commonly known as kennel cough although usually not serious the ailment can be a nagging problem and is caused by the pets close proximity with other animals vaccinations are available to prevent it blue-mclendon says once the animal has been picked up at the boarding facility you may want to see the log kept during its stay most facilities keep daily records of how often the pet was fed exercised or groomed boarding a pet can be a tough time for some animals especially if they are not used to it blue-mclendon says the best solution is usually to keep the animal at home and have someone care for it in its own environment but if that isnt possible boarding is necessary and thats when the owner needs to do a little homework most facilities are properly run but its always best to do a little checking around before you board your pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

here comes peter cottontail april 21 2011 chicks and bunnies are very cute especially when associated with easter baskets and bows however their baby-like appearance can sometimes lead to an impulsive decision to bring one home as a pet without considering that they will need to be cared for during their entire lives an impulse pet is always a bad purchase warns dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences it may look cute in the store but easter is gone in a day and then you have an animal to take care of long term stickney also explains that while baby chicks are very cute full-grown chickens might not be the best pets especially not for children its hard to interact with a chicken and roosters can be very aggressive they also get barbs on their feet that can cause a lot of damage notes stickney if you have put some time and consideration into buying a pet for your child a rabbit can be a good first pet as they are docile and are fairly easy to take care of in general the good news is that you do not have to walk or train a rabbit states stickney they will need to get some exercise so you have to let them hop around each day when selecting a rabbit as a pet there are a few basic guidelines to making sure you get a pet that is healthy and that will work well with your family when the rabbit is moving around in its pen make sure that it is able to move without limping and that it can keep its balance suggests stickney it needs to look proportional in its muscling check that there is no nasal or ocular discharge which could be signs of snuffles a respiratory disease also check and make sure its hind end is not wet or soiled which could indicate diarrhea or poor grooming the rabbit should have a nice hair coat with no missing fur be sure to keep in mind that if the rabbit is for a small child you will want to handle it first and see how it behaves pick the docile one that is willing to happily sit in your hands without biting or scratching if the rabbit is unhappy you will know; they have sharp claws and they will scratch or kick if they feel threatened a rabbit always needs to have its back legs supported when being held to prevent injury the down side to pet rabbits is that they are pretty messy while it is possible to litter train some rabbits for the most part they go to the bathroom wherever they are because of this they will need to be in a hutch of some sort most of the time make sure that if you do have a rabbit as a pet that you do not keep it in a wire cage it sounds gross but at night they secrete vitamins in their feces and they have to be able to eat these secretions to stay healthy says stickney although rabbits are easy to care for there are still things you have to do to keep them healthy and comfortable be sure to keep their hutch in a place with a comfortable temperature at all times and keep their dietary and veterinary requirements in mind a rabbits diet consists primarily of coastal hay and vegetables and a third of their diet should include rabbit feed explains stickney the hay is very important because it prevents digestive problems that rabbits get as a result of cleaning themselves like cats do hay is also important for a rabbits teeth a rabbit that is constantly nibbling on hay has a good appetite if it does not chew on hay constantly its teeth can overgrow teeth should line up nicely and not be uneven or tusk-like which could signify an improper diet if your rabbits teeth do overgrow it will have to be sedated and its teeth will have to be filed down by a veterinarian warns stickney its also important to remember that rabbits will chew on just about anything so watch out for things like power cords because they can electrocute themselves rabbits also have routine veterinary needs just like any other pet they will need to be spayed or neutered and can also get fleas you really need to get your rabbit spayed or neutered before sexual maturity or they can become aggressive advises stickney check with your veterinarian because not all of them spay and neuter rabbits you should also ask them for any flea preventative or treatment as over-the-counter products for dogs and cats can be toxic for rabbits while any pet can be a wonderful addition to a family it is never a good idea to buy a pet on a whim if you have researched your pet committed to its life-long care and believe your child is ready for the responsibility then a rabbit can be a fun furry companion just remember they do live 7 to 11 years on average so you could potentially have the rabbit even after your little one leaves the nest pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

a look at the alternative april 14 2011 this year marks the 250th anniversary of veterinary medicine as the worlds first veterinary school opened in lyon france in 1764 however veterinary medicine has been around since people and animals have coexisted and there are many ancient techniques in veterinary medicine that have been used for thousands of years those ancient techniques are reaching the forefront once more as clients demand all available treatment options for their pets and veterinarians start to consider the staying powers of antique methods according to dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) alternative veterinary medicine is best described as a term for a group of treatments or modalities that lie outside of the conventional or mainstream treatment of veterinary medicine occasionally the terms alternative veterinary medicine integrative veterinary medicine and complementary veterinary medicine have been used as synonyms; therefore veterinarians now use the acronym cam to reference all three terms the american veterinary medical association guidelines for alternative and complementary medicine state that holistic veterinary medicine includes but is not limited to the practice of acupuncture and acutherapy (involves the stimulation of specific points on the body by use of acupuncture needles low level lasers and other tools) botanical medicine (the use of plants and plant derivatives for treatment) chiropractic (refers to the adjustment and alignment of specific joints to create comfort) homeopathy (unique form of medicine) massage therapy (touch technique used to eliminate pain and to improve the blood-flow) nutraceuticals (the use of nutritional supplements to aid in treatment) as well as conventional medicine surgery and dentistry holistic veterinary medicine considers all aspects of the animals life in the context of its environment behavior medical and dietary history emotional stresses as well as a comprehensive physical examination and other factors that may play a role in the animal patients life explains crist in other words diagnosing and treating the animal patient in the context of the ‘whole patient most alternative medicine treatments are based on clinically accepted medicine however it is difficult to find scientific data to support the theory that these modalities are safe and effective more clinical data is becoming available but it is a very slow process due to limited funding for research there are still a lot of questions concerning alternative veterinary medicine techniques as some practitioners believe there is still little evidence today to back up the powerful claims some veterinary practitioners view complementary and alternative medicine as controversial notes crist some critics believe that there is limited to no evidence-based data to support unconventional therapies or modalities and others claim that the evidence-based data to support these therapies is of poor quality owners need to understand that some of these modalities are slow and gentle and take time to take effect says crist others may believe that alternative medicine does not work at all because they may have waited too long in the disease process and despite what therapy is used nothing will work the approach in the field of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine is the philosophy that an integrated approach with conventional veterinary medicine will increase the chances that the patient will do well explains crist conventional and alternative veterinary medicine is becoming more available from veterinarians because of client demand and also because some veterinarians are recognizing the value in using these alternative modalities in their patients if an animal does partake in any alternative technique without the care of its primary veterinarian it is necessary for the owner to notify its primary veterinarian of any alternative modalities; especially if a pet takes medications herbs and supplements on a regular basis some of these therapies may interfere with other medications prescribed by the veterinarian the fda has classified herbal products as food supplements and they are marketed as such says crist most herbal products or remedies are sold in various forms such as dried bulk herbs oils tinctures ointments creams and capsules it is important to purchase high-quality products from a reputable and established supplier if interested in learning more about alternative veterinary medicine practices it is important to visit with a veterinarian who is trained in cam to practice in any of these modalities veterinarians must first be certified and well versed in their area of interest within the scope of complementary and alternative medicine these modalities should be practiced by a veterinarian with licensure and referral requirements concerning each modality explains crist the certification includes hundreds of hours of continuing education in that field numerous examinations multiple case reports and hours and hours of shadowing an expert in the field it is important that if an owner requests any of these integrated modalities that he or she is referred to a veterinarian certified in that field it is also important that if they are referred by their regular veterinarian that the two work together to do the best for the pet alternative veterinary medicine is another option for the treatment of your pet it is your job to do extensive research and consult with your veterinarian to decide if it is the best option for your pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

texas box turtle…a good pet for you april 7 2011 in our hurried world we can be intrigued or frustrated by the pace of the texas box turtle most of us have seen this reptile making its way across a country road or paved highway you can stop and help the box turtle cross the road or take it home for a pet question is which is the better choice turtles are some of the oldest reptiles on the earth notes dr j jill heatley clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences they are slow-moving but these creatures have survived virtually unchanged for thousands of years the box turtle is a land animal that can also swim well states heatley it spends its life around water marshes or wetlands it is an air-breathing animal toothless and reproduces by laying eggs generally you can distinguish male from female box turtles based on the color of their eyes males have bright orange to reddish iris color while females have brown to tan iris color the box turtle is characterized by a high domed shell that hinges so the turtle can enclose itself thus the fitting name of box turtle notes heatley box turtles eat vegetation as well as insects slugs snails and dead flesh will this terrestrial creature survive the fast paced world of today can box turtles out-pace todays human desires for exotic pets run-ins with automobiles and loss of habitat turtles can make good pets but taking a turtle from the wild and placing it in your home may lead to a slow death for the animal cautions heatley like any pet turtles require daily attention care and have specific nutritional and environmental needs relocating the native turtle to your home can be detrimental to the animal turtles establish home ranges and they will try to return to their home territory if removed from it they may travel long distances looking for familiar grounds this is sometimes called ‘homing in the process they may come in contact with predators unsuitable habitat or they may lose the race while trying to cross the highway the most common question i get asked is ‘what do i do if i see a turtle crossing the road says heatley she recommends pulling your vehicle safely to the side of the road and put on your hazard lights when you can safely approach the turtle based on traffic pick the turtle up by the back of the shell and place it off the road in the same direction that it was headed injured turtles may be brought to the college of veterinary medicine at any time for care and repair resist the temptation to adopt a turtle from the wild the box turtle confines its activities to a small area (several acres) for its home range and breeding ground once removed from this territory many displaced turtles fail to establish a new home range and few find their way back to their original home range explains heatley since the box turtle is long-lived with a life span of 20 years or more they experience delayed sexual maturity (anywhere from 7 to 10 years) this turtle species requires a long life span and high population density to increase its population a box turtle must survive lawn mowers farm machinery predators and crossing roads during its growth years before it can add to the species the box turtle is also threatened by the pet trade notes heatley as more people collect box turtles as pets or to sell to others as pets the turtles population density would be expected to decline if levels get too low box turtles will not be able to sustain their numbers since box turtles take a long time to reach sexual maturity live in a limited home range and produce a small number of eggs in each clutch this animal is hard pressed when additional pressures are encountered explains heatley it is for these reasons that harvesting adult box turtles from the wild for pets is a concern in our hurried and fast-paced world if you make the time to look for the texas box turtle may you continue to find them in their natural setting may you marvel at this centuries-old creature who is trying to survive in an ever changing world remember that it is best to leave the texas box turtles on their home range pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

low carb for cats march 31 2011 according to dr debra l zoran a clinical assistant professor of small animal medicine and surgery at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences cats are metabolically adapted for higher protein low-carbohydrate diets more than 35 percent of cats in the united states are overweight or obese said zoran age sex and activity level are all factors that influence the weight of a cat; however feeding style is a significant contributor to obesity rates traditional weight loss plans include low-fat high-carbohydrate foods however cats are not traditional animals when it comes to their ideal diet cats are not only carnivores but they are obligate carnivores meaning they require additional protein and other nutrients that are only present in animal tissue said zoran zoran explained that cats utilize protein for energy even in the face of large amounts of carbohydrates in the diet because cats lack salivary amylase and have low concentrations of other carbohydrate-digesting enzymes digestion of sugars is very inefficient in cats explained zoran when it comes to cat food extra carbohydrates only mean extra calories which if not burned for energy are stored as fat in addition to their enzyme deficiencies a cats small intestine is much shorter than that of an equally sized omnivore such as a dog felines have longer gi tracts which allow them to handle complex carbohydrates instead of slimming down a fat cat a high carbohydrate high fiber diet may lead to abnormal intestinal function or even diarrhea while these [low-fat high carbohydrate high fiber] diets may result in weight loss they do so to the detriment of lean body mass which is protein in muscles said zoran losing lean body mass often contributes to weight regain because cats appetites are not reduced and satiety or a sense of satisfaction is never reached past studies evaluating the use of a canned low carb high-protein (45 percent or higher) diet for weight loss in cats has revealed that all cats lost weight and maintained lean body mass these diets not only resulted in sustained weight loss in these cats but also in normalization of appetite because they are satiated explained zoran this does not mean that cat owners need to bake some blackened tilapia for tiger or slap some ribs on the grill a high-protein diet for your cat does not call for extra fuss; suitable foods can be found in the pet food aisle the best commercial diets for achieving a high protein low-carb profile are canned foods like those used for growth such as kitten foods or canned diets specially designed for adult diabetic cats said zoran some cats will turn their noses up at the sight of canned food but no worries there are also dry food options that provide high-protein and low-carbohydrate nutrition however zoran recommends that most cats be fed at least some canned food as part of their diet to reduce both carbohydrate intake and overall caloric intake dry foods tend to be very calorie dense said zoran feeding them only 50 percent canned food is a good starting point sadly garfield might need to give up his lasagna dinners for a healthy serving of protein instead pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

living with lizards march 24 2011 you love pets you may have grown up around dogs and cats or even horses you are ready for the responsibility that owning an animal entails however you want something a bit more unusual than the normal pets of choice why not try a pet lizard according to teresa shisk-saling registered veterinary technician at the texas a &m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences there are several species of lizards that are good to keep as pets depending on your level of expertise as a reptile keeper in my opinion says shisk-saling bearded dragons and leopard geckos make good beginner level lizards chinese water dragons and blue-tongue skinks make good intermediate level pets argentina tegus and savannah monitors are good pets for the experienced reptile keeper and for the really brave (and experienced) there are water monitors of course there are pros and cons to each species and other factors to consider when deciding which is the right lizard for you such as how long each lives and how big they get it is also important to consider what each lizard eats if the idea of feeding live crickets makes you squeamish you may want to consider a different animal bearded dragons live 10 to 12 years and can grow up to be 8 to 10 inches long their smaller size is part of what makes them good beginner pets along with the fact that they are very personable and social notes shisk-saling they are fairly easy to feed but they can be picky eaters if you are not committed to feeding them right for they cannot live on crickets alone they can also be kept in readily available containers leopard geckos are also a good pet since they stay small (about 5 to 10 inches) and can be kept in a 10 gallon aquarium their whole lives (roughly 10 to 12 years) says shisk-saling they are fairly easy to feed and they require no special lighting however since they are nocturnal they can be a little nippy when their beauty sleep is disturbed! if you are looking for a slightly more challenging pet lizard a chinese water dragon or a blue tongue skink may be the pet for you each lives about 12 to 15 years the skink can grow up to 12 to 14 inches and the chinese water dragon at 2 to 3 feet with its tail is a bit larger blue tongue skinks are a bit more of a challenge but a nice sized lizard with impressive looks says shisk-saling they [and chinese water dragons] can be tamed down with some handling and are fairly easy to feed a downside to these lizards however is that without handling they can be flighty they also need warm temperatures high humidity and special lighting so a prospective owner needs to be aware of their maintenance needs two more unusual pet lizards are the argentina tegu and the savannah monitor both live around 10 to 12 years with the former growing around two to three feet and the latter growing to around three feet shisk-saling states that these are not for beginners but they can be very nice personable pets and they will even leash train when it comes to feeding them however these are not for the faint of heart as they are carnivores they also need quite large enclosures and like the chinese water dragon and the blue tongue skink warm temperatures and special lighting the final lizard the water monitor is a very impressive animal these huge lizards can grow up to 7 to 9 feet long and can live as long as 15 years for the very experienced reptile keeper they can be handle-able and personable but keep in mind their size because they can weigh up to 30 pounds adds shisk-saling it is always best to research the animal that you want to keep the worst reason to buy a lizard is because its cheap! some of the meanest nastiest animals available (nile monitors tokay geckos) are very inexpensive make sure you know what requirements you need to provide and what to feed and be prepared to care for the animal for its whole life above all if the animal is acting ill call a veterinarian do not try to get rid of it on craigslist once you have decided which lizard is the right pet for you what are some initial items you need to buy depending on the species you may get by with as little as just an enclosure (such as an aquarium plastic tote or a wire cage) with a hide box and water bowl says shisk-saling generally however people enjoy decorating their cages to make them look like the animals native habitat enclosures can also be as extensive as a multi-level enclosure with plants hides waterfalls aspen shavings etc explains shisk-saling remember that many lizards may need heat lights uvb lights or misters so timers and power strips could prove beneficial owning a pet lizard can be a fun and educational experience as long as you do your research before bringing your pet home not only can you learn a lot about reptiles in general but you can also amaze your friends and family with your new knowledge and your new pet if you will commit to their care lizards can give you many years of enjoyment pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

the seriousness of stomach aches march 17 2011 it may seem like sparky has a cast-iron stomach but even he could be susceptible to bloat the technical term is gastric dilatation-volvulus (gdv) an extremely serious condition in dogs that can result in death gastric dilatation-volvulus also known as ‘bloat primarily occurs in deep-chested large breed dogs said dr michael willard professor at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences willard explained that bloating of the stomach is sometimes also associated with twisting (volvulus) of the stomach signs may include unproductive gagging and retching abdominal discomfort and/or distention shock difficulty breathing and in some cases even death diet exercise and the size and depth of a dogs chest may be predisposing factors while gdv is less common in pets than many other emergency conditions owners of large breed dogs should be aware of the rapid and often fatal effects of gdv gdv is a significant cause of death in large breed dogs animals with gdv that are diagnosed and treated early have a survival rate of about 70 percent whereas survival for those that are diagnosed and treated late is less than 30 percent willard advises any dog owners who believe that their dog has developed gdv to take it to a veterinarian immediately he or she will decompress the stomach and treat the animal for shock by administering fluids when the patient has been stabilized the veterinarian may need to perform surgery to untwist the gut if twisting has occurred gdv cannot reliably be prevented in some cases the twisting of the gut can be avoided by a surgical procedure (called gastropexy) in which the stomach is sutured (stitched) to the abdominal wall said willard prophylactic gastroplexy may greatly lessen the risk of recurrence but it is does not completely eliminate it unfortunately there are no medications that will cure gdv in dogs it can become fatal in as little as four to six hours and it is costly to treat willard estimates the average cost of treating a gdv case with surgery to be between $2 000 and $5 000 but if there are complications the cost could be much higher dogs that have had gdv in the past are at a higher risk of developing it again given the rapid and fatal effects of gdv owners should not wait to see if the ailing dog improves on its own if the dog is gagging unproductively willard advises taking the dog to a veterinarian immediately early detection and treatment just might save sparky from this often-fatal tummy ache pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

horse foaling march 10 2011 newborns evoke a smile and the birth of a foal is no different horse owners greatly anticipate the birth of a foal and are wise to prepare the mare for the birth on average a mare is pregnant 340 days before giving birth notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences but mare pregnancies can range from 315 to 387 days preparation for foaling should begin prior to the birth explains mays daily exercise will help the mare in foal tone body muscles and maintain a healthy heart and lungs which can benefit the mare and foal during birthing during the first eight months of pregnancy your mare can maintain nutritional balance on good pasture quality hay feed and minerals supplements but the last three months of pregnancy require dietary changes notes mays the unborn foal doubles in size during the last 90 days consequently there is a great need for more protein minerals and vitamins to support the foals growth additionally the mare needs more nutrients to prepare for lactation quality roughage should be the major portion of your mares diet grain should be reduced the week before foaling states mays oats and bran are good feed choices at this time since they will help decrease the likelihood of constipation after foaling grain can be increased gradually to resume full ration regular worming will ensure that the mare will not contaminate the pasture and foaling stall with worm larvae which the foal can ingest explains mays consult your veterinarian about recommended vaccinations for your pregnant mare generally six weeks prior to the foaling date the mare should receive a tetanus vaccination to boost the antibodies in her colotrum (first milk) a mare will only produce colostrum for the first 6-12 hours after birth after that she will produce milk the colostrum helps protect the foal against disease and aids in eliminating fecal material which can build up in its intestinal tract says mays mares prefer privacy when they are foaling and the majority of mares foal at night notes mays this could be a survival trait that ensured the mare and foal would be less susceptible to predators during the birthing process when horses were in the wild appropriate foaling facilities assure a safe and sanitary environment for the mare and her foal this may be a grassy paddock or pasture small enough with sufficient lighting to allow visualization of the mare for monitoring the birth process if a birthing stable be available it should be at least 12 feet by 14 feet and prepared in advance of the foals arrival the stall as well as water/feed buckets and manger should be cleaned and disinfected your veterinarian can suggest the best disinfecting supplies says mays he can also recommend bedding mares having difficulty with the delivery process may need assistance foals are born two front feet first and then their nose follows any deviation from this warrants a call to your veterinarian the mare is in active labor for about 30 minutes and once the foal is born both mare and foal may lie quiet for another 30 minutes notes mays during this quiet time blood is being pumped through the umbilical cord from the mare to the foal normally the umbilical cord breaks on its own below the foals abdomen; it should be treated with iodine to prevent infection some veterinarians recommend that the foal receive an enema to facilitate the initial evacuation of the rectum a 30 cc volume of glycerin administered per rectum (use a conventional syringe without a needle) is often effective after giving birth the mare will lick the foal and establish a bond with her offspring says mays the licking also helps to clean and dry the foal if the foal requires assistance to stand remember the young bones are soft aggressive handling can compromise bone structure especially at the rib cage dont rush in to help give the foal and mare some time alone unless foal distress is obvious notes mays mother nature has done quite well for a long time without human intervention the foal should stand without assistance within an hour start nursing within three hours and nurse at least once every hour some veterinarians prefer to do complete blood count and chemistry on the foal after 12 hours to determine if it received enough colostrum (and therefore antibodies) to help keep it healthy it is very important that the foal build immunity to fight exposure to bacteria in its new environment keeping your mare healthy prior to and after foaling will greatly increase the chances of having a healthy foal that will grow to be a healthy horse pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

the dawn of spring allergies march 3 2011 as the trees start to pollinate the spring season starts to dawn and so do those pesky allergies a time to put the winter cold past us and a look to the brighter days are not so bright for those with allergies many pets are affected by spring allergies and it is important to be aware if your pet shows signs so you can lighten its discomfort and help provide brighter days according to dr adam patterson clinical assistant professor and a board certified dermatologist at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) an allergy is an exaggerated response in which the bodys immune system overreacts to normally harmless environmental substances known as allergens patterson explains that pets can show signs of allergies during only the spring or year-round dependent on what they are allergic to any cat and horse breed can be affected by allergies notes patterson any dog breed can also be affected but there are certain breeds that are more susceptible to allergies including: terriers retrievers dalmatians shar peis and bulldogs when people encounter allergic reactions they tend to sneeze and wheeze whereas animals tend to itch and scratch their way to a hopeful recovery but this can actually promote more severe skin problems an itch may be manifested as licking chewing biting rubbing scratching head shaking and/or scooting explains patterson common itchy body areas include the face ears paws armpits groin rump and anal region horses may present with an itchy skin disease and/or hives every pet has its own itch tolerance which means the intensity and reason(s) for your pets itch may not be the same as another animal regardless of the animal allergic patients are prone to secondary infections that can cause skin discoloration hair loss pimples or scabs if your pet does show any of these allergic signs it is in everyones best interest to contact your veterinarian your veterinarian can develop a customized treatment plan for your pet so the itch can be alleviated however patterson comments that allergies can be managed not necessarily cured treatments are tailored to the individual based on the extent severity and seasonality of signs says patterson the ‘absolutes of therapy include: routine bathing to remove pollen accumulation infection control (topical and/or systemic) and flea prevention other treatments can be prescribed based on what the patient is sensitive to and the response to the ‘absolutes it is important to recognize that allergies can be managed but often are not cured sometimes steroids are used to alleviate an itch however patterson warns that long-term use of steroids can cause detrimental health problems for this reason it is recommended that the underlying trigger of allergic signs be sought and managed with other less harmful treatments for those animals with chronic problems explains patterson the most common allergens that affect pets are fleas food pollen molds mites insects and dander as there are a lot of factors to consider when diagnosing what your pets are allergic to your veterinarian can perform tests and personal evaluations based on many factors to help determine the culprits elimination diet trials are used to exclude food allergies notes patterson skin or blood ‘allergy testing is used to select candidate pollens for immunotherapy (oral allergy drops or allergy injections) in animals with an environmental allergy it is important to recognize that these tests do not diagnose an environmental allergy as ‘normal animals can have ‘positive test results the diagnosis is based on the history clinical signs and the process of exclusion spring allergies are more common in pets than most people believe ten percent of the canine population is affected by allergies it is important to be aware of the allergic signs and notify a veterinarian when the symptoms persist if you have any questions pertaining to allergies or skin ailments you can call the dermatology department at the cvm small animal clinical sciences at 979-845-2351 or visit their webpage to review frequently asked questions and answers pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

assistance dogs: offering a new sense of freedom february 24 2011 imagine not being able to open a door not being able to pick up items that fall to the ground or not hearing an intruder enter your home many individuals with disabilities live with those concerns on a daily basis fortunately assistance dogs have been incorporated into their lives so they can receive help in performing those daily tasks an assistance dog is broken down into three sub-categories: guide dogs to assist vision-impaired individuals hearing dogs to assist with intruders or other sounds and service dogs to aid with all of the other duties that a guide or hearing dog does not cover assistance dogs have been around since 1929 when the seeing eye guide dog association was established the american with disabilities act (ada) defines service animals as animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind alerting people who are deaf pulling wheelchairs alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure or performing other special tasks service animals are working animals not pets service dogs provide an opening for people with disabilities to be accepted explains dr alice blue-mclendon clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) and the advisor for one of the many student run organizations called the texas a&m aggie guide-dogs and services-dogs (ags) service dogs not only help individuals with disabilities complete daily tasks but they give the individuals a new sense of freedom and independence there are about 15 000 individuals who use assistance dogs in the united states and there are many who are on the waiting list to receive one an assistance dog can help a visually impaired individual get around and they can also help individuals lacking the use of fine motor skills by opening and closing doors for them and picking up things that they drop some service dogs are even trained to pick up credit cards notes blue-mclendon each dog is trained to do specific tasks there are several national organizations who train and place assistance dogs with their owners each organization has different methods that they use to train dogs some organizations get their dogs from shelters and help find a second life and purpose for the dog some organizations use donated dogs to train with other organizations raise their own dogs to train with prior to training each dog is tested to ensure that it has the proper temperament and a high intelligence to be able to handle the training training assistance dogs involves two phases phase one includes puppies from 8 weeks to 16 weeks old and is about 18 months long it consists of obedience training and socializing after assistance dogs successfully complete phase one they are put into a more specific training regimen that usually takes from 6 months to a year after phase one there is a high percentage of dogs who have a ‘career change ' notes blue-mclendon some dogs do not perform as expected during the phase one training and they are ‘career changed for example they become therapy dogs where they visit places like nursing homes or they become pets it takes a dog with a special personality to be placed as an assistance dog at the end of a successful training a dog is matched with its new partner/owner according to the ada the dogs function is to assist the individual and is not a pet if you see an assistance dog in its jacket always ask the owner if you can pet the dog notes blue-mclendon an assistance dog may be working and its mindset may be thrown off if someone pets it without proper notification from its owner according to the ada people with disabilities cannot be asked to remove their service dogs from the premises unless the animal is out of control and the owner does not take effective action to control it or the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others unless those two instances occur a service dog and a dog in training can go anywhere its owner goes dependent on their specific duty assistance dogs come in all shapes and sizes according to blue-mclendon the most common breeds who complete the training programs are: labrador labradoodle german sheppard and golden retriever ags have been training assistance dogs through phase one since 1997 says blue-mclendon our puppy raisers or trainers are students all across the university with different majors volunteers in other service dog organizations also range across the board however they all have one common goal and that is to help train an animal so that animal can dramatically improve an individuals life forever the success of the assistance dog program has initiated a new sense of power and freedom for its constituents the future is hopeful and looks bright as people become more aware of the positive effects that assistance dogs have on the individuals physically and emotionally about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

horse dental care (february is national dental month) february 11 2011 february is national pet dental health month as with humans horses benefit from having good oral hygiene and dental care dental disease can lead to pain tooth loss and infection in other organs when bacteria from infected teeth and gums enter the blood stream and circulate throughout the body regular dental care is important to the well being of todays horse notes dr cleet griffin clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences foals and weanlings are examined to check for proper skull and dental development as well as alignment of upper and lower jaws this is followed by routine checkups every six months until about five years old once the adult teeth are in place annual teeth exams should be performed horses have teeth with long crowns that are contained within a deep dental socket the teeth continually erupt into the mouth as the grinding surface is worn away notes griffin horses chew many times per minute when grazing and eating tough fibrous feed material the horses teeth slowly wear down when the upper and lower teeth grind one another while chewing the forage and feed explains griffin after a few minutes of chewing the food softens and is able to be swallowed not only does eating and chewing gradually wear the teeth down but sharp points also develop the horses anatomy (the horses lower jaw is narrower than its upper jaw) in combination with the horses continual tooth eruption and chewing motion contribute to the formation of sharp points along the edges of the teeth sharp dental points can cause irritation when the horse is eating or when being ridden because these areas cut and ulcerate the cheeks and the tongue notes griffin your equine veterinarian will examine your horses mouth for odor inflammation ulcers cuts tooth decay and abnormalities of wear juvenile age performance horses may require more frequent dental attention to monitor eruption of the permanent cheek teeth and incisor teeth explains griffin to give an equine dental exam sedation is commonly used it makes the procedure safer and easier by providing relaxation and analgesia which helps to keep the horse more quiet and still says griffin only a licensed veterinarian should administer a sedative to your horse it is also best if he/she can provide the comprehensive dental care too a speculum which is a type of brace is used to keep the horses mouth open during an equine dental exam the speculum is not painful to the horse when used properly it facilitates a better view inside the horses mouth and provides a safer working environment for the veterinarian since motorized floats and specialized dental equipment are now used in conjunction with manual files notes griffin both medication and medical tools are used by your veterinarian to safely remove ‘points and ‘hooks that could eventually cause discomfort when your horse eats or takes the bit explains griffin we float (file) the points off the teeth to prevent them from cutting the cheek tissue or tongue also floating often involves reducing the length of overlong teeth in order to allow free chewing motion and prevent trauma to opposing dental tissues horse teeth contain sensitive pulp and nerves when performed properly by the veterinarian the floating procedure does not cause harm or pain because great care is taken not to expose the sensitive tissues of the teeth the horses mouth is an efficient food-processing machine what your horse eats and where he eats it will affect how your horses teeth wear for example research has shown that horses fed a grass or hay diet utilize a greater side-to-side chewing motion chew more times per minute and spend more time per day chewing compared to horse that are fed grain concentrate with grain concentrate horses tend to utilize a more ‘up-and-down chewing motion which contributes to formation of sharp dental points notes griffin a thorough equine dental exam by a veterinarian can provide important information about the overall well being of your horse it is best to detect dental problems early because it is usually more difficult and costly to correct a later dental crisis a healthy mouth that is free from sharp points or painful areas should help your horse chew and perform more comfortably about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

love for pets heart february 10 2011 february definitely has heart its the month we celebrate national heart awareness and valentines day for those reasons february is a good reminder for owners to learn more about pet heart disease so that their pets can live a long happy and healthy life cats and dogs may be born with a congenital heart condition or they may acquire a heart disease as they age according to dr crystal hariu cardiology resident in small animal medicine and surgery at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) both congenital and acquired heart diseases may be related to structural defects or heart rhythm problems for instance a heart valve that did not perform properly or becomes abnormal over time may not function adequately and could cause problems says hariu congenital and acquired heart diseases may also be related to a heart rhythm problem meaning the rhythm at which the heart beats is too fast or too slow one of most common heart diseases for pets in texas is heartworm disease despite its name heartworm disease is caused by a parasite that primarily affects the lungs explains hariu however it often secondarily affects the heart and can be fatal fortunately heartworm disease is completely preventable a veterinarian can prescribe a monthly medication that will prevent heartworm disease and its devastating effects as with other conditions many of the heart diseases in cats and dogs are hereditary certain diseases have known genetic mutations that can cause the problem notes hariu other diseases do not have specific mutations worked out yet but are known to be passed on through breeding hariu recommends consulting with veterinarians prior to breeding because they can help owners make an informed and responsible decision any pet that has a congenital heart disease should not be used for breeding any dog can be born with or develop heart disease; however certain breeds are predisposed to a heart condition hariu explains that chronic valve disease is one of the most common acquired heart diseases in middle aged to older small dog breeds and is prevalent in the cavalier king charles spaniel dachshunds pomeranians miniature schnauzers and chihuahuas dilated cardiomyopathy is another acquired heart disease that develops in middle aged large breed dogs like the doberman pinscher great dane great pyrenees and irish wolfhound arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopthay is an acquired heart disease with at least one known causative genetic mutation it typically affects boxers; however pit bulls or english bulldogs can also be affected according to hariu the three most common congenital heart diseases seen in dogs are patent ductus arteriosus (pda) subaortic stenosis (sas) and pulmonic stenosis (ps) pda tends to occur in small dog breeds such as the bichon frise maltese and toy poodle; however larger breeds like the german shepard are also predisposed in contrast sas typically occurs in larger breeds such as the boxer german shepard golden retriever and newfoundland both large and small dog breeds are predisposed to ps and the most commonly affected are the english bulldog french bulldog beagle boxer mastiff and chihuahua some common precursors of heart problems to look for in a pet are breathing difficulty coughing decreased exercise weakness lethargy and episodes of collapsing if any of these signs occur at home a veterinarian should be contacted for a full health evaluation if heart problems do exist there are several procedures in modern veterinary medicine that can treat or ease the symptoms of heart disease in pets while some heart diseases can only be medically managed some can be helped with non-invasive catheter based procedures or surgery explains hariu for instance pda is a condition in which there is an abnormal connection between two heart vessels that should normally be separated in many cases a catheter can be used to non-invasively place a device across this abnormal connection effectively closing it some acquired heart diseases can also be helped with procedures says hariu for example some heart rhythm problems in which the heart beats too slowly can be effectively managed by placement of a pacemaker receiving yearly checkups with a veterinarian maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet exercising regularly and keeping pets regular on vaccines are the best ways to promote a healthy heart and the well being of a pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

what to know before visiting a dog park february 3 2011 the concept behind public dog parks is an exciting one for dogs and owners alike where fresh air and playfulness are plentiful because public dog parks are accessible by anyone each trip proves to be a different experience hosting a range of different interactions for a pet visiting a park is a social activity and unlike their owners dogs do not always know how to behave accordingly while this should be a fun and exciting experience for the dog owners should try to enforce proper behavior skills in their furry friend while maintaining proper park etiquette themselves always remember to pick up after your dog when they use the restroom; most parks supply dog waste bags and designate trash cans for this purpose one health risk that comes along with visiting a dog park is the amount waste from different dogs that your pet is exposed to one disease that animals can catch from drinking standing water that has been exposed to animal waste is leptospirosis said dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences stickney explains that dogs can be vaccinated for this disease and recommends that any dogs visiting a dog park on a regular basis to stay current with this vaccination gastrointestinal parasites such as hook worms round worms and whip worms also pose a threat to any dog that is exposed to another dogs feces dogs like to sniff each others noses and rear-ends so if a dog has any type of respiratory disease signs of coughing eye discharge or nasal discharge then that is not the time to bring them to the park said stickney another common problem that is transmitted from dog-to-dog is fleas which here in texas is prevalent year-round so having a dog on a flea and heart worm preventative is another good step to take socializing dogs with other dogs and other people is one perk that dog parks have however if a dog is not accustomed to being around other dogs and people it might be a good idea to try socializing them with another dog that the owner is familiar with it is possible for a dog to do well around a couple of other dogs but then feel very overwhelmed when visiting a dog park setting with 20 other dogs the most critical period for socializing a dog occurs within the first 8 to 12 weeks of their life this is a good time to expose them to different people and types of animals in order to help avoid any anxiety or behavior problems in the future said stickney stickney explains that this is almost a double-edged sword because it is good to socialize a dog at a young age; however this is also when their immune systems are not the strongest and owners want to be careful to whom they expose them i like to take my puppy everywhere with me and to go visit my neighbors friendly dog often but i am not going to turn him loose at a park with many different dogs that i do not know said stickney also some dogs simply are not social creatures and are not comfortable around a lot of attention if a dog appears skittish or afraid in unfamiliar settings or frequently rolls over in a submissive position when other dogs approach it then chances are it will not enjoy visiting a dog park when dogs interact with each other for the first time in a park it can be a stressful moment if one is unsure of the response that will occur it is important not to bring a female dog that is in heat to a dog park this will result in having to deal with the constant bother of male dogs and even worse an unexpected litter of puppies! when fights break out in public areas between dogs usually it involves male dogs that like to display their dominance even if a dog is well-trained and able to run off of the leash it is always good to have a leash handy getting exercise is key to a dogs health so running around with them on a leash or playing fetch with them off of a leash are both rewarding forms of play visiting a dog park can be an exciting and interactive practice for a dog as well as the owner as long as owners are courteous and aware of their surroundings and the potential problems that can arise more time spent with a pet is always a positive thing! pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at here suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

cold weather colic in horses january 27 2011 cold winds and changing winter weather may not seem like contributing factors for equine colic however these conditions can foster changes in routine and eating habits that may affect the well being of your horse a common winter time equine health concern is colic notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences colic is a symptom of abdominal pain and can take the form of digestive problems intestinal blockage or a twisted intestine among other possibilities there are several reasons why horses tend to colic more as the winter months linger explains mays lack of quality grazing too cold water and reduced exercise time can contribute to equine colic springs lush green pastures provide grass that contains moisture which is absorbed in the gut and adds wet fiber to more readily move food along your horses digestive tract when there is no green grass to graze the possibility for impaction increases explains mays keep quality hay in front of your horse to provide roughage the horse digestive tract is designed for high volume food such as grass and hay and these should be fed before grain when temperatures drop the tendency is to increase your horses grain rations to meet the increased energy demands to stay warm however increased carbohydrates can upset your horses digestive tract when temperatures drop feed extra hay not grain since hay provides more efficient ‘heating fuel for your horse says mays roughage quality and availability may negatively affect a horses intake and digestion coarse dry grazing or baled roughage can result in soft tissue abrasions inside the horses mouth during the chewing process this seemingly minor trauma can result in a horses compromised ability to grind feed stuff due to soreness in the mouth notes mays adequate water consumption is essential for your horses well being horses tend to consume less water in colder weather since lower temperatures decrease their desire for water however they still need 10-12 gallons of water daily depending on work load also if the temperature of their water source is below 45 degrees horses tend to consume less water insufficient water intake can result in dehydration and decreased blood volume (resulting in fewer nutrients to cells and decreased efficiency of waste removal) when water intake is decreased your horse has an increased chance that its intestines may become impacted and colic can then occur explains mays frozen water sources obviously compromise water availability even best intentions like utilizing water warmers insulating pipes and warming coils can fail so check your horses water source to be sure that all is functioning also inspect plumbing for leaks when temperatures rise above freezing historically horses were foragers who moved and ate most of the day they were mobile and not confined to a stall or fed restricted feedings notes mays regular exercise and movement helps to keep a horses digestive system functioning properly even if you can only turn your horse out for a short time or just walk around the barn it is better than no exercise at all the ideal situation is for your horse to spend the majority of its time on pasture during the winter months you can minimize colic attacks if you monitor your horses water intake to be sure that it is being well hydrated feed quality hay that is free of impurities such as mold and exercise your horse or provide pasture for roaming says mays while colic is not always avoidable careful feeding sufficient water intake and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of your horse being affected by cold weather colic about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

year of the veterinarian january 13 2011 veterinary medicine as a profession was born 250 years ago with the founding of the first school of veterinary medicine in lyon france the world veterinary association along with other leading veterinary organizations have designated 2011 as the year of the veterinarian and the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences is taking part in the effort to help promote the global spread of knowledge in veterinary medicine the year of the veterinarian is recognizing the first veterinary school in lyon france but it is also about encouraging the advancement of the education of veterinarians and sharing knowledge so that we can raise the bar for veterinary medicine throughout the world said dr leon russell professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences during the late 18th century europe was facing a cattle plague that eventually led to the death of approximately 200 million cattle because of a disease referred to as rinderpest this began to significantly affect the food supply and the pope ordered a decree for a method to be developed to eliminate the spread of the disease king louis the xv of france assembled a team in 1761 led by noted horseman claude bourgelat in order to form a veterinary school in lyon the new school successfully stopped the spread of rinderpest which eventually spurred the development of another veterinary school three years later in alfort france whose original building still stands intact today today veterinarians play vital roles all over the world concerning people and animals alike almost three-fourths of diseases that have emerged within the last 20 years are zoonoses or diseases transmitted between animals and humans explained russell whose teachings focus mainly on topics in public health and epidemiology many diseases such as hiv (human immunodeficiency virus) and sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) are believed to have originated in wild animals and then transmitted to humans a potential source of new diseases may arise due to the tremendous amount of international trading of animals illegal trading in many cases that usually involve wild animals said russell russell noted an example of a small breed of rats that were being shipped to a company in texas via west africa while in texas the rats were housed with prairie dogs then both animals were shipped to 17 different states to be sold as pets veterinarians later discovered that the animals carried a disease known as monkeypox that was being contracted by people in the united states veterinarians work hard to prevent zoonoses and are called on to work closely with physicians to help in identifying cases like these said russell for example in the state of texas when any animal bites a person there are certain public health laws that must be followed if the animal that is believed to have inflicted the wound is captured and is a dog or a cat it must be quarantined for ten days and a veterinarian must then okay that the animal is free of rabies before it can be released rabies is a classic example of a global zoonotic disease which is responsible for the death of about one person every ten minutes somewhere in the world the human rabies is mostly still seen in africa or southeast asia as a result of dog bites dogs are the main carrier of rabies throughout the world although we are very fortunate in the united states to have eradicated the dog strain of rabies virus in dogs through our rabies vaccination program said russell russell explained that united states still has cases of rabies in wildlife however the eastern united states usually sees the virus in raccoons the southwestern states see it in foxes and everywhere in the country will see it in the bat populations in texas we just have to worry about seeing the virus in skunks and bats but the important thing for people to realize is that at least three-fourths of the human cases of rabies in the united states have been traced back to bat origin stated russell sometimes these diseases such as rabies can disguise themselves as something else and are not detected until it is too late but we do have very effective vaccines to prevent contraction of the disease in high risk people also post-exposure treatment is important in preventing the disease if one knows they have been exposed to a rabid animal and if they act quickly enough veterinarians also have public health oversight in many food industries such as beef pork and poultry they also promote food security by supervising animal production hygiene veterinarians are hired by the united states military to monitor the food quality and safety that the troops consume and also provide a safe food supply for our us government personnel in other countries water included said russell russell noted that the united states air force especially is known to use veterinary assistance for their environmental safety officers veterinarians are also vital in protecting the environment and the biodiversity of our planet through research efforts made in the fields of conservation and genetics many of the faculty at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences have international reputations for their expertise in reproductive biology cancer neurology biodefense infectious diseases equine and feline medicine and cardiology to name a few for more information about veterinary medicine you can check the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine website for links to the world veterinary association vet 2011 website the american veterinary medical association and the texas veterinary medical association russell who has served in the past as president of the world veterinary association the american veterinary medical association and the texas veterinary medical association noted that we are very fortunate in the united states to hold the gold standard in veterinary medicine the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences is one of only 28 veterinary schools in the united states the only one in the state of texas and is consistently ranked in the top five the college has planned three lectures to take place this year that focus on the past present and future of veterinary medicine information on these lectures will be on the college website at wwwvetmedtamuedu so in celebration of the year of the veterinarian please remember to take care of the health of your pets and thank your veterinarian for all they do to keep pets people and our environment healthy! pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

protecting pets from winter cold january 13 2011 there are many precautions people take when the cold weather rushes in for the winter pets can also be heavily affected by the drop in temperatures and so it is important to take note of the ways you can protect them from the cold prior to the first freeze schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a checkup you need to be aware of the existing illnesses your pet has; some chronic illnesses can worsen in the winter if you have small pets it is best to keep them in a warm shelter like your house for nights below freezing as a precaution it is important to do a home inspection prior to the winter months because your furnace can leak carbon monoxide which can be a silent killer for you and your pets it is also necessary to check windows and door panes for drafts which can suck out the warm air and bring in the cold winter air if your pet does stay outside check its paws for sharp ice or embedded snow which can lead to frostbite and further damage if your animals can not be brought inside due to their size dr leslie easterwood clinical assistant professor in equine medicine at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) explains ways your larger pets can be protected from the cold temperatures herd animals tend to congregate together to conserve body heat and will generally protect the young ones in the center said easterwood if it is not wet and merely cold then all they should need is a wind break their natural winter coat traps air against the skin when it fluffs up and this insulates them notes easterwood their natural fat cover also helps to add insulation as well cold wet weather calls for some type of covered protection if at all possible said easterwood they will also need additional roughage or hay in order to produce their own body heat when providing extra hay for your animals to stay warm make sure the hay is fresh according to easterwood using old hay for bedding can pose problems with varmints mold inhaled allergens parasites and many more most large animals should stay outside unless they are newborns or debilitated animals most other large animals can withstand the coldest of temperatures babies are most adapted to being born in the spring when temperatures are milder explains easterwood again as long as they have a wind break and some cover from the rain (even if it is a shed with no sides) than they will be fine when the temperature drops it is vital to keep your animals hydrated proper hydration helps animals regulate their body temperature dehydration can cause major health problems for animals in the cold one of the most frequently encountered medical problems for horses related to the cold weather is impaction colic due to a decreased consumption of water explains easterwood horses do not like to drink cold water and we have studies to prove that they will drink more water if it is warmed for this reason they use bucket warmers up north in order to prevent the water from freezing and to keep it warm to encourage increased consumption in most cases we do not have to go to those measures here in texas but some individual horses who are very opposed to cold water would benefit from those extra measures some owners will top-dress their grain with oral electrolyte powder to encourage their horses to drink more in the winter notes easterwood keeping track of water consumption for their horse can give them a heads-up to impending problems if they notice a decrease during the winter months if you keep a cautious eye on your animals and do everything you can to protect them your pets will be able to withstand the cold months watching your pets and getting to know their individual behaviors body conditions and intake habits can be very helpful in maintaining a healthy animal through the winter says easterwood also it is extremely important to maintain a good relationship with your veterinarians so that they can help with any problems along the way pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

hotels staffing pets january 6 2011 hotels have recently jumped on the trend of accommodating pets in hotel stays however pet-friendly hotels are still limited across the country and so the next time that you travel for business or pleasure you may need to leave your pet behind on the other hand a new trend adopted by hotels may allow for a pet to be waiting for you hotels around the nation have slowly adopted rescued dogs cats and fish to ease travelers minds hotel visitors can schedule walks sit down appointments and hikes with these hotel companions while they stay at the hotels dr m a crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences is familiar with the positive effects animals can have on people and she sees this trend lasting studies have been provided that interactions with animals can be calming and even lower blood pressure for humans notes crist a beck and n meyers studied that ordinary interactions with animals can reduce blood pressure pets may also enhance the physiological and psychological well-being of many people this opportunity to interact with the animals may provide some travelers with the opportunity to meet others or for other travelers to be alone without being lonely the use of companion animals to aid in relaxation and to provide additional opportunities for exercise is healthy for the travelers this is healthy for the pets as well because the pets receive exceptional care from the hotel hotels chose pets who are very socialized and extremely people friendly most of the chosen pets are temperament tested and enjoy meeting people and the activities that they provide crist says the hotel pets are bathed regularly and are current on healthy veterinary wellness examinations and vaccinations protocols i believe that the hotel would not support or place an animal in harms way the resident hotel pets are very well taken care of and usually have an endless list of people waiting to share their friendship with them aside from the beneficial health factor this may have on both parties it is important to note the pros and cons of this situation according to crist there are several positives through this experience a rescued animal is provided a healthy home spent with people who will give it attention hotels are also very aware and give particular instructions so that their resident animal is not harmed while in the company of travelers any extra fees that may be charged are usually donated to a pet charity or a rescue shelter according to crist there are also some drawbacks to this operation some travelers may have allergies to animals and they can not be around them some travelers may have no desire to be around animals while other travelers may have an actual fear of animals and they will choose to stay away from them at all costs hotels provide specific instructions in the care of the resident pet so that a hotel guest or traveler does not cause unintentional harm to the pet outweighing the good with the bad crist does see this trend lasting because of the positive effects it has this trend may be long lasting because if promoted in the sense that the hotel is giving a rescued pet a place to live and an opportunity to have interactions with people who are pet friendly who would not want to support that trend explains crist some travelers are on the road so much that they cannot have a pet because they are not home long enough to take care of a pet properly and this can give them a chance to interact with a pet without the ownership responsibility other travelers may live in a place that does not allow pets and this gives them an opportunity to interact with a pet currently fairmont kimpton and the ritz-carlton hotel chains across the united states are staffing rescued pets for traveler companionship in the very near future we may see a rise in this as it may be a trend longing to stay pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

meeting your horses needs in the winter months december 23 2010 cold weather brings extra responsibilities for horse caregivers proper nutrition access to water adequate shelter regular hoof care and depending on circumstances dental attention vaccinations and parasite control are all winter concerns for the equine enthusiast preparing your horse for winter should begin before the first chilling winds hit notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences in late summer horses living in temperate climates should be allowed to slightly increase body weight so that the extra flesh and fat will provide additional insulation and heat reserve for the winter during the winter feed and hay ration should be adjusted to give your horse more energy for heat and warmth against the lower temperatures explains mays your horse may need extra forage and feed to develop more flesh and fat so that it does not shiver as easily because shivering burns fat and muscle tissue quality forage should be fed all year and especially during the winter months says mays the best food heat source for your horse is extra hay because as your horse digests hay heat is produced internally by bacterial fermentation this warms your horse from the inside higher protein legume hays provide more energy and nutrients and make a good choice for winter feeding forage and water complement your horses diet without water your horses body will not function properly notes mays as temperatures fall horses tend to reduce their water intake and reduced water intake combined with increased forage intake may lead to a greater likelihood of impaction and colic you may want to consider providing warmed water during the winter months since horses tend to increase water intake when there is access to 45-65 f degree water also providing loose salt may encourage your horse to drink more with food and water needs met now you can focus on protection from harsh winter weather the horses winter coat is the first barrier from cold notes mays the hair coat acts as an insulator and provides warmth a layer of air is trapped in the hair coat when a horse fluffs its hair an outside horse should be allowed to grow a long hair coat and additionally the ear and fetlock hair should not be clipped during the winter months it should be noted that once the hair coat becomes wet the hair lies down and loses its insulating properties for this reason your horse needs to be able to escape winters bitter winds snow or rain a small three-sided run-in shed is helpful be sure that the back wall is to the prevailing wind and that water does not run under the shed shelter for you pastured horse will reduce feed bills and stress related illness explains mays horses housed in stalls also have special needs during the winter months says mays damp stalls increased ammonia levels and inadequate ventilation can contribute to poor air quality when the barn is closed during cold weather ammonia dust and stale air can be trapped in the barn so good ventilation is crucial for your stall-housed horse it is best to open barn doors and have good air flow to reduce the possibility of respiratory problems cleaning stalls daily to remove manure and wet bedding greatly improves air quality in the horse barn whether you are riding regularly or not you should remove dirt from your horses hooves explains mays hooves are still growing in the winter months and appropriate maintenance is important teeth should be checked for wear and floated if needed sharp teeth edges can cut the tongue as well as prevent proper chewing of forage and feed resulting in wasted or poorly utilized nutrients notes mays horses may get undetected cuts during the winter so update any needed vaccinations and make sure your horse is immunized against tetanus states mays even though nature may be dormant during the winter months parasites are not especially in moderate climate environments says mays internal and external parasites have a negative influence on your horses health tick and lice numbers can increase in areas of confinement long thick hair cover aids in hiding these parasites so regular grooming is necessary shorter winter pastures may expose your horse to increased contact with nematode larvae and thus increased internal parasites attention to your horses environment as well as nutritional physical and medical needs will help your horse weather this winter and be fit for riding come spring pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

implications of fireworks on pets december 16 2010 as the new year approaches so does time for celebrations and fireworks fireworks are a celebratory gesture but many people dont realize the implications they may have on pets according to dr audrey cook clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) most pets are startled by fireworks and experience some degree of anxiety because of the unfamiliar loud noises and flashes of light they portray aside from anxiety and fear some pets can experience physical pains from firework encounters a direct injury from a firework is unlikely but could happen explains cook in fact the most common problems we see reflect the pets desperate efforts to escape from perceived danger cats may hide and run away and be injured in the process dogs may also hurt themselves trying to get away from the noise any injured pet should be examined by a veterinarian notes cook particularly worrying injuries would include anything on the face mouth or eyes bleeding wounds or burns should be loosely covered by a clean napkin to reduce further damage or infection before medical help is provided cook recommends approaching an injured pet with care as it can sometimes bite due to fear and pain the best thing to do is to move slowly and gently wrap the injured pet in a blanket to provide some reassurance and to reduce the risk of biting if your pet experiences anxiety from fireworks the best strategy is to simply act normal because if you change your behavior your pet will notice this will only reinforce its fears as your body language and behavior can tell your pet a lot easing their fears is difficult and sometimes we actually increase anxiety when we try to reassure a frightened dog or cat said cook our reaction tells them that fear is appropriate and we can actually heighten their response if we make a big fuss according to cook desensitization – meaning getting your pet used to fireworks – is not a very effective approach it is very hard to desensitize a dog or cat to the noise of fireworks as these are distinct and rarely encountered notes cook it is probably more effective to protect your pet from the noise or train it to focus on you when any loud noises occur the best strategies include trying to block out the noise with loud music on the television or providing a distraction like a favorite toy notes cook if you behave as though nothing is wrong and instead engage your pet in a game or training exercise it may deduce that there is no cause for anxiety in case of a severe phobia your veterinarian may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication or sedative for your pet however it should only be used if there is no other way to calm your pet down during these times it is also wise to give the medication about one hour before the fireworks are expected; waiting to give the pill when the animal is anxious may limit its effect the best way to avoid any anxiety from fireworks is to keep your pets inside or on a leash away and distracted from the sights and sounds of new years eve any place where they most feel safe is preferable for your pets pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

exercising with your pet december 9 2010 david sessum rvt looks on as cayenne walks in the water treadmill modern times have promoted lack of activity due to the busy schedules people lead in order for people to live healthy well-balanced lives they need to stay active with an exercise routine the same is true for pets as they continue to naturally become more sedentary than their predecessors according to the association for pet obesity prevention about half of the nations pets are considered overweight this is why exercise with your pet is more critical than ever before any activity with your pet helps encourage the human-animal bond that people have with their pets explains david sessum registered veterinary technician and rehabilitation specialist at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences regular activity helps promote a healthy lifestyle in both the owner and the animal the benefits of exercise are outstanding and well worth the time for you and your pet not only can exercise improve your pets health; it may also alleviate some of its nervous energy which can help in many factors sessum notes that any type of pet can exercise exercise can be tailored to the specific breed for example labrador retrievers were bred to retrieve so a game of fetch can provide a healthy exercise as well as satisfy the dogs instinctual desires with dogs simply taking them for a walk on a regular basis is beneficial explains sessum with cats enrichment activities such as playing with toys like a small ball or a string can promote a healthy lifestyle pocket pets such as gerbils can be placed in an exercise ball and allowed to roll around for a good workout it is important to take precautions prior to starting any exercise with your pet make sure that your pet does not overdo it also the more active your pet is the more water it will need just like people pets need to stay hydrated after a strenuous exercise with dogs an owner playing fetch in extreme weather conditions can lead to injury or illness for the owner and the dog said sessum problems occur when owners try to force exercise on their pet if a pet is accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle or lying around all day forcing them to exercise can lead to injury or serious health problems if you are concerned with your pets health and are not sure if it is fit enough to start an exercise program it may be best to consult with a clinician so they can perform a wellness exam david sesum rvt and abby rafferty rvt help emmy lou on the exercise ball the wellness exam can also include a body condition score to assess if a pet is a healthy weight explains sessum if a pet needs to lose weight a weight reduction program can be started if a pet has a known orthopedic or neurologic condition a consultation with a clinician can help prescribe specific exercises to help improve strength and also evaluate a pets pain level and prescribe pain medication if needed keep in mind to try to make exercise fun if you approach exercise as play time your pet will be more receptive to the idea exercise can help you look feel and be your best when you partner exercise with your pet the effects are most visible for the both of you the texas a&m veterinary medical teaching hospital offers a rehabilitation service for pets that need exercise or rehabilitation from an injury for more information on rehabilitation or sports medicine please call 979-845-2351 or find them on facebook at veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

how to ensure proper pet dental care december 2 2010 the american dental association recommends that people visit the dentist annually to prevent dental problems and even more serious medical problems according to dr johnathon dodd clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) who runs the small animal dental suite with thomas koenig registered veterinary technician ii at the cvm pets should get yearly dental care as well one of the most overlooked aspects in preventative maintenance is dental care explains dodd your pets teeth should be professionally cleaned at least once a year and more often if severe problems are present the most common cause of dental problems is periodontal disease periodontal disease starts off as a bacterial growth on the surface of the tooth which leads to inflammation of the gums and can eventually channel to a fatal disease according to koenig around 65-80 percent of dogs have periodontal disease before they are 3 to 4 years old periodontal disease can be easily avoided by investing a couple of minutes a day with your pet other than annual teeth cleanings and checkups by a veterinarian proper dental hygiene should be promoted on a daily basis at home it is best to begin home care when your puppy or kitten is between 8 and 12 weeks old; however it is never too late to start notes dodd the first step is to train your pet to accept brushing of the teeth and the best way to approach that is to establish a routine of brushing your pets teeth with gauze around your finger it may be helpful to use beef or chicken broth with dogs or tuna water with cats to get them accustomed to the routine instead of using cleaning agents once your pet is familiar with the daily routine you can switch out the gauze for a fingerbrush or a very soft toothbrush then you can incorporate using pet toothpaste do not use toothpaste intended for people because the ingredients can cause stomach issues in your pet if ingested it is also important to remember not to give your pets bones to chew on explains koenig in addition to the gastrointestinal issues bone chips can cause bones cause real problems for the teeth bones are notorious for causing teeth to break which leads to additional visits to the veterinarian and further medical problems koenig recommends rawhides or softer chew bones to replace bones as chew toys for your pet certain pet foods have enzymes that help with dental maintenance there are also water additives available on the market that can help with teeth health however the most proactive and reliable dental care for your pet is to brush daily and to keep it on a routine basis so your pet is more receptive to the process good dental care is essential to extend your pets life span and assure a good quality of life expressed dodd i really enjoy my profession because it is very rewarding as i can see firsthand how much healthier my patients are due to proper dental care for more information on pet dental problems or dental care please call the cvm small animal hospital at 979-845-2351 or visit their website at https://vethospitaltamuedu/small-animal/dentistry/ pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web here suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvmtamuedu print

fire is your pets worst friend november 25 2010 its still tailgating time thanksgiving is here and in a few weeks it will be christmas time outdoor grills fireplaces and electrical appliances pose a risk to our pets that shouldnt be overlooked so dont spoil the happiness of the season and take into account these pieces of advice for your pet and fire safety animals have an instinctive fear of fire and smoke; they will tend to stay away says dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the small animal clinical sciences the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) problems come literally when curiosity kills the cat this time of the year people set up space heaters and an animal doesnt know and knocks it over and the fire can start that way another thing is when the holiday lights are going up and animals chew the electrical cord and they can electrocute themselves specifically now near christmas time when you receive a new puppy or kitten and they dont now any better they start playing with the lights and they can get themselves electrocuted or they can possibly start an electrical fire stickney says other species that are infamous for chewing include rabbits the newly popular guinea pigs ferrets and any pocket pets that have easy access to items underneath furniture and close to the floor what about pet reptiles and fire safety they are not as fast movers so they are not going to knock over a space heater the problem in this case is that they can burn themselves its not so much a risk to the house but its a risk for them stickney says it is especially important to be more careful this time of the year because of all the stir in the house with the incoming guests and all of the extra decorations in the house you need to make sure that you are always around and that you never leave pets unattended with electrical appliances if you are not home please unplug them secondly make sure that you know where your pets are all the time if you have a new puppy or the children have been playing with the guinea pig make sure that they havent lost interest in the pet and that it is accounted for especially when there are guests in the house a helpful tip for pet fire safety is to go to your local fire department and ask for a sticker that you can put on an outside window that will tell the fire department how many pets are in your house the sticker is a great way in case theres an accident and your house is on fire for the firemen to know that there are animals in the house that need rescuing as well stickney says according to stickney the biggest thing to bear in mind if you have an outdoor pit if you are setting up the grill or deep-frying your turkey over thanksgiving is you want to make sure there are no pets around where the deep-fryer is if animals are not used to being around pits they can eventually run into them and burn themselves and potentially knock it over and start a fire in your yard says stickney when it comes to fire safety think of your pet as a 2 or 3 year old child who doesnt know any better and whos going to make the worst of any possible situation keep that in mind and that will keep you out of trouble states stickney pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

holidays hazards for pets november 18 2010 holidays can be a wonderful time spent with loved ones and being grateful for everything we have received over the past year however there are some things to be aware of when holidays are in session our pets can become vulnerable to some holiday hazards and it is important to be knowledgeable and cautious about those risks so they can be avoided the smells of food fills the air and even though it might be tempting to give your pet a treat please remember that there are a lot of pet specific treats that are not harmful to your pet but human treats can often be harmful for your pet chocolate is by far the most commonly ingested dangerous food around the holidays explains dr james barr clinical assistant professor in emergency and critical care at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) chocolate and cocoas contain theobromine a chemical highly toxic to dogs ingestion in small amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea but large amounts can cause seizures and heart arrhythmias disorder of heart rate beating too fast or too slow barr says that alcohol toxicity is another frequent issue for pets around the holiday season affected animals can experience seizures dangerous drops in blood sugar blood pressure and body temperature as well as respiratory failure one should avoid foods containing grapes and raisins as they have been reported to cause kidney failure in dogs notes barr many sugarless gums and candies contain xylitol which has a strange affect on dogs causing a massive insulin secretion and a dangerous sometimes fatal drop in blood sugar one should also avoid fatty foods because this can cause severe inflammation of the pancreas known as pancreatitis which can lead to abdominal pain vomiting and can occasionally result in death it is also important to be careful when exposing plants to your pet some plants can be toxic to your pet so make sure that all plants are out of their reach poinsettias have classically been thought of as toxic but if ingested they only cause mild problems such as vomiting or diarrhea explains barr the same is true for holly berries or mistletoe although they are slightly more dangerous if large quantities are ingested more concerning plants are any flower in the lilly family because they can cause severe kidney failure in cats holidays would not be the same without decorations so keep your pet in mind when choosing decorations especially your christmas tree both real and artificial trees pose hazards for pets says barr the preservative for the water in the christmas tree can contain ingredients such as bleach and vinegar which are caustic and can cause some gastrointestinal irritations it is very important to keep pets away from drinking tree water it may be best to a keep a christmas tree in a stand where the water can be covered so pets dont have the option to drink the water also it is important to secure the tree with a fishing line string to a hook on the ceiling or wall to avoid it from falling over tree lights should not be plugged in when they are not being used so that your pet does not get tangled up in them pick up all tinsel ribbon ornaments and hooks off of the floor so a pet does not mistake them for chew toys decorate the bottom of the christmas tree with wood or plastic ornaments that wont break in case a pet likes to get close to the tree keep all of the gifts that contain human food off the floor so pets are not tempted by the smells burn candles in places that are inaccessible to your pets barr points out that liquid potpourri can cause chemical burns to the mouth and esophagus which can be very painful and dangerous for any pet if ingested lastly please avoid giving pets as presents without consulting the receiver of the gift first animal shelters see an increase of donations directly after the holidays from short lived pet owners while pets as presents may make for a popular parent it is a well-known fact that shelter populations increase after the holidays as there are a lot of those pets that are surrendered because a family is unprepared for them explains barr if you are considering a pet as a gift use the opportunity to visit a shelter and adopt a deserving pet from there it can be a wonderful opportunity where the giver and the receiver will gain a lot more from the experience if you believe that your pet has ingested a toxic substance please call: pet poison helpline at 1-800-213-6680 or the aspca animal poison control center at 1-888-426-4435 as always the texas a&m university small and large animal hospitals are always open for animal emergencies 24 hours a day 365 days a year pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

prosthetic limbs for dogs november 15 2010 prosthetic intervention has been used for many years in human rehabilitation to achieve mechanical and rehabilitative goals that is to stand up and walk again the use of these prosthetic limbs for dogs and other pets has been limited in veterinary medicine although published case reports have existed for over 40 years the use of prosthetic devices in veterinary medicine is in its infancy says dr jacqueline davidson clinical professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences usually most dogs and cats do really well with three legs and so in the past veterinarians just amputated the affected leg for most of these injuries even those that require the amputation of more than one leg there are other devices such as wheeled carts that can do the job in the last ten years people started to do more prosthetics davidson says lately we are seeing more small animals with prosthetics this surgery is not a cheap one and normally it is the owner who requests it there are different types of surgeries that involve prosthetic limbs one surgery involves fitting a prosthesis over the skin on the stump of the leg and the other one is more involved as the prosthesis is implanted into the bone davidson says according to davidson this kind of surgery though promising will still need some time to be more cost-effective right now you have to work with a prosthetist and you have to order the materials specifically for each animal it can be very expensive just like humans do pets that undergo this kind of surgery and get a prosthetic limb implanted need to go through a rehabilitation process sometimes getting the pet to adapt depends on the personality of the animal on the circumstances or their age but after some time they start to adjust and live a fairly normal life davidson says its important to remember that after a successful prosthetic limb implant dogs are not the only ones who recover several degrees of freedom their owners feel a sense of freedom because they are able to sit on the porch or sofa again and watch their cats and dogs run around the house about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

cosmetic procedures november 4 2010 whether it is for appearance purposes or for more ease in function and motion cosmetic surgeries are not uncommon these days from teeth whitening to liposuction people will sometimes elect to have these procedures even when there is no medical need present now some people are applying these same principles when it comes to their pets cosmetic procedures for pets might include wrinkle removal tail docking ear trimming declawing in felines debarking in canines and hair dying although many of these surgeries are unnecessary that is not to say that their value is purely aesthetic i look at declawing cats front paws only as a life saving procedure said dr phil hobson recently retired professor of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences cats can be very difficult when it comes to clawing furniture and even children hobson recommends only removing the front claws this way the cat can still climb a tree to get away from a dog another option and one that does not involve surgery is material that can be adhered to the claws which can be very beneficial but it often comes off after a short period of time and may have to be replaced frequently as with any surgery there are risks one being if the removal is incomplete the claw can then regrow a deformed nail also too radical of an excision may result in poor healing and cause more pain for the cat said hobson wrinkle removal is used as the last option for dogs with skin infections according to hobson sometimes facial folds are removed particularly in short-nosed breeds of dogs because they tend to get infected at their creases pet owners are not exactly lining up for this surgery though it is not generally a surgery that the client would request to improve the animals appearance but rather for health reasons in fact sometimes owners do not want the surgery done because it detracts from the traditional look of the dog said hobson when discussing pet cosmetic surgery its important to remember that though some of the procedures are novel this is not a new field in veterinary medicine classic examples of cosmetic surgery include ear trims and tail docks which have proven to be quite controversial repairing congenital defects or implantation may also fall into this category said hobson surgery to correct congenital defects may improve the quality of life for certain animals and should be carefully considered pets with conditions such as luxating patellas (chronic dislocating kneecaps) and cleft palates would be candidates for this type of surgery veterinarians specializing in ophthalmology may be able to surgically implant eye replacements for dogs that have lost their sight as with glaucoma hobson notes in this case the inside of the eye is removed and a ball is inserted in its place this is purely for the owners benefit because some owners find it difficult to look at their pet and see an eye missing cosmetic surgeries are usually considered less risky than necessary surgeries though there is always an element of danger when working under anesthesia most of the time these animals go into surgery healthy so they have fewer complications said hobson also many cosmetic surgeries like those for congenital defects are done in young animals which will have a better prospect for recovery than older animals debarking or the removal of vocal folds in a dog is another surgery that owners have opted for in the past usually after all other techniques have failed to help control their barking habits it is usually a rather harmless and relatively simple procedure although we rarely have to do the procedure with a dog for persistent or loud barking because there are the other techniques that can be used by animal behaviorists hobson continues however we do a fair number of vocal fold removals (debarking) for usually older dogs with laryngeal paralysis to provide a better airway hobson explains that this surgery is usually adequate and thus doesnt require more involved surgery which may predispose the pet to other problems more specifically aspiration pneumonia besides surgery there are other less risky things that owners might subject their pets to for appearance purposes some people find personal preference in dying the hair of their animals such as bleaching a horses tail or a turning a puppy pink with horses remember that if you apply something unnatural or alter something it is important that you help them maintain this for example some people like to braid their horses manes this can be very pretty but if you turn your horse out in a pasture the hair can become tangled and knotted especially if rubber bands are used resulting in the chore of having to pick out debris and sometimes even having to cut the hair if the knots are too tangled horse-shoes are another example; if you do shoe your horse it is important to keep up with this if the shoe becomes loose it can irritate the foot and when it eventually falls off if there is an uneven number of shoes the horse will start to favor one foot over the other creating unbalanced muscle tone or potential injury even if your horse does not have shoes their hoofs need to be trimmed on a regular basis whether a cosmetic procedure for your pet is for appearance purposes or to help them maintain an easier lifestyle it is ultimately the owners personal preference some surgeries are more complicated and painful than others and the pros and cons should be weighed before opting for any surgery about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

trick or treat give me something good to eat! october 28 2010 trick or treat give me something good to eat! there are a number of healthy treats that your horse can enjoy these treats can provide pleasure and add beneficial nutrients to your horses diet however they can also precipitate into behavioral problems some fruits and vegetables make healthy horse treats notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences however feeding your horse foods other than their usual grain and forage can result in some unwanted results many horses enjoy apples and an apple cut into pieces makes a wonderful treat states mays apples should be cut into pieces since a whole apple may cause your horse to choke whole apples are the perfect size to become lodged in the horses esophagus nutritionally apples provide your horse with potassium which is important for proper muscle contraction and nerve function also potassium is an electrolyte which is important for cellular metabolism explains mays additionally apples provide calcium and phosphorus calcium is important for bone growth muscle and heart function and milk production phosphorus is required for bone structure and energy metabolism apples also provide all important fiber to the equine diet notes mays from healthy fruit to nutritional vegetable the carrot makes a welcomed treat for your horse mays notes to also be careful to avoid choking when feeding carrots cutting the carrots into thin slices will prevent a large chunk from becoming lodged in your horses esophagus carrots contain vitamin a which is needed for healthy eyes mucus membranes skin and hair states mays fortunately fresh pastures and quality hay provide horses with most of their needed vitamin a however lack of green grass in the winter may be reason to provide your horse with additional amounts of vitamin a during those months as in all treats moderation is the key over indulgence can mean future trouble warns mays digestive problems are one aspect of too many apples or carrots but behavioral problems can be much more difficult to contend with when a horse anticipates and expects a treat as routine and does not get the treat unacceptable behavior may occur your horse is a large animal and may become abusive when not given more treats states mays as long as the treat remains an infrequent unexpected reward apple or carrot pieces can be a true treat for your horse notes mays however it should be noted that giving your horse treats too frequently may result in your horse acquiring obnoxious behaviors giving your horse treats can become problematic because horses can become spoiled to the idea and therefore demand the treat so it is no longer a treat but becomes part of a routine explains mays when considering whether to give treats to your horse or not you should determine their intended purpose and role in your horses overall health and well being notes mays if your horse seems to be satisfied with the treat of a gentle pat on the neck or vocal praise then a food treat may not be necessary give your horse something good to eat for a horse something good to eat is a well balanced diet of grain and forage with some mineral supplements and maybe … just an occasional treat of chopped apple or carrot pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

pets on wheels october 21 2010 some injures can lead to paralysis and drive our pets to a dead-end fortunately there are now options for animals that can make their lives go on wheels again literally for pets that have lost use of their legs because of paralysis or a disease wheelchair devices are now available that can restore lost motion a wide variety of devices are now on the market to help companion animals move around and they work very much like a wheelchair said dr alice blue-mclendon clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences blue-mclendon says a veterinarian can take measurements of the animals body to be fitted for the wheelchair devices which are custom-made for that particular pet the veterinarian can then contact one of several companies that make the wheelchairs which usually consist of a harness-like device with straps and wheels there are also several reliable companies on the internet that will work directly with the clients to make a custom wheelchair dogs are the most frequent users of the devices but they can also be made for cats ferrets goats rabbits and other pets costs usually range from $200 to $400 depending on the size of the pet blue-mclendon says that several medical conditions can cause a pet to need a wheelchair device one is hind limb paralysis which can be due to injury such as being struck by a car or a vertebral disk disease another cause is a degenerative condition in which the muscle or bone of the animals leg cannot function properly causing the animal to drag its legs or not move at all once the device is fitted to the pet it usually takes several days for the animal to get accustomed to the wheelchair blue-mclendon explains but animals are quick to adapt and after a few days they usually can get around very well with these devices she notes she stresses that it takes a commitment from the pet owner before considering whether to purchase a wheelchair for a pet it takes extra time on the owners part to take off the device at night because the animals must sleep without them blue-mclendon says and many times if the animal is paralyzed it still needs assistance several times a day with urination also since the animal can only use its front legs to get around it tends to get tired more quickly so the owner needs to be aware of this especially if taking the animal out for a long walk or other exercise blue-mclendon adds that once the animal is accustomed to the wheelchair it can lead a relatively normal life these wheelchair-type devices have become quite popular in the last 20 years or so she says they give your pet an option that it might not have had otherwise – that of regaining much of the mobility it once had if the owner is willing to make the commitment they can be wonderful aids for disabled pets pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

feline nutrition october 14 2010 about 40 percent of cats in american households are obese obesity is a serious medical condition and has been linked to other medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus degenerative joint disease and lower urinary tract disease explains liz kelley veterinary technician ii at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) there are a number of steps that you can take to ensure that your cat is healthy when choosing food for your cat the primary ingredient should include a high quality meat product cats are obligate carnivores and have very specific protein requirements that must be met and cannot metabolize plant proteins such as wheat glutens and soy as efficiently notes kelley in addition to the best primary ingredients many cat owners wrestle with the debate over canned food versus dry food and which is the healthier of the two kelley recommends canned food for a number of reasons canned food is a better choice for your cat says kelley it is easier to get a higher protein content as well as more water with canned food dry food is a high carbohydrate food and has a low protein content the high energy carbohydrates in dry food are also a major factor in causing obesity in cats and dogs if you feel your cat is obese you should consult with your veterinarian they will give you a specific diet and exercise regimen for your cat kelley explains that exercise alone does not work for weight loss in any species diet must be the key to weight loss and for cats a high protein low carbohydrate diet is the best choice suggests kelley protein is used for energy and also to maintain their muscle mass which increases metabolism and therefore weight loss in order for your cat to maintain a healthy lifestyle it needs to be properly hydrated an eight pound cat should drink about half a cup of water every day cats get most of their daily water intake if they consume canned food notes kelley if cats are fed a dry diet they do not get enough water from their food you can make water more tempting by using water fountains or flavoring it with a little bit of low sodium tuna juice if you would like to give your cat a treat kelley says that it is okay as long as it does not exceed 20 percent of its daily caloric intake the best treats to give your cat should include protein made from dehydrated meats the most important thing to remember is to make sure the protein is from a high quality source and that the diet is a balanced diet stated kelley nutritional deficiencies can take anywhere from months to years to become apparent there is a fee based website wwwbalanceitcom that is run by dvm consultants who are board certified veterinary nutritionists who can provide a balanced diet recipe or consult on a recipe that an owner is already using to make sure that it is healthy and balanced the clinicians and staff of the small animal hospital have taken a progressive approach to applying the best nutritional practices for their patients on october 18 the cvm will open a new $70 000 kitchen donated by nestle purina petcare to help ensure that all of their patients nutritional needs are being met not only will they house purina products but they will have other brands available so that they can guarantee to have the best options available for all of their patients as they are each given different meal plans by their veterinarian with the help of your veterinarian you can make the changes necessary to prevent your cat from becoming obese and take the steps to give them a healthier lifestyle please remember that while working toward a healthier lifestyle for yourself be sure to include your pets as well kelley states pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

ptsd in dogs october 7 2010 when most people think of post-traumatic stress disorder or ptsd veteran soldiers might come to mind or perhaps someone who has experienced a bad car accident or a natural disaster the reality is that people are not the only ones capable of having this anxiety disorder; animals experience it as well ptsd is an anxiety disorder or change in behavior following a stressful event; therefore anything deemed stressful by an animal has the potential for creating a stress disorder a severe thunderstorm a natural disaster (flood earthquake tornado etc) gunfire war bombings abuse and attacks by other dogs are just a few known events that have caused ptsd in dogs said dr dorothy black clinical assistant professor in emergency and critical care at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences many people may come into contact with dogs that display symptoms of this disorder the old saying let sleeping dogs lie should apply as more than just a saying when dealing with most any dog that one is unfamiliar with but especially if the dog is experiencing ptsd the most common behavior changes seen are fear shaking shying away from people (including those they know) hiding urinating when greeted inappropriate elimination (in the house on a bed etc) howling or barking and/or aggressive behavior explained black it is important to remember that these animals have been wronged in some way whether intentionally or not and should not receive harsh punishment or harmful reactions from a person when the animal displays these unwanted or odd behaviors sadly this is why some dogs that show up in animal rescue centers or shelters are not allowed to go on and be adopted because their behaviors are seen as unfit however it is possible just as in humans for dogs to recover and even eventually come out of this disorder each dog behaves differently and each dog follows a different course but time patience and consistency will all be key in restoring your dogs confidence said black black recommended seeking the help of an animal behaviorist trainer or veterinarian to start the healing process for your dog these specialists can help create a plan and monitor the dogs progress they can help determine if your pet may benefit from medications along with behavior modification when people feel stressed or frazzled often times they just need a getaway for some private time and the same applies for pets creating a kennel for the pet if one does not already exist could possibly help the pet feel safer creating a routine with set meal times dog walks and play time gives your pet a sense of control said black ultimately your goal is to desensitize your dog to situations they find stressful there are many approaches to this but all involve slow controlled small doses of stressful events and reinforcement of improved behavior canine ptsd is very similar to ptsd in humans dogs and people display similar behaviors after traumatic events and have similar biochemical changes explained black interestingly the recovery process from ptsd is also similar in humans and dogs the relationship between man and dog can play an integral role in this as both respond positively to that unconditional bond if your animal has been through something traumatic do not assume that any odd behavior they might be displaying is permanent because they cannot tell us how they are feeling it is important to take their mental health seriously and be patient with them so that hopefully the pet can regain a confident happy and healthy lifestyle about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

new advances in technology for pets october 1 2010 how do our pets benefit from technological advances in veterinary medicine some of the latest innovation in imaging and treatment technology has led to less invasive more accurate and even faster diagnosis of disease which improves outcomes for our pets veterinarians add these new tools to their treatment arsenal to identify the best treatment options for their patients with the ultimate objective of avoiding invasive procedures such as surgery when possible magnetic resonance imaging (mri) is a promising technological advance that veterinary medicine is incorporating into practice dr tige witsberger lecturer at texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences thinks the use of mri in soft tissue surgery has exciting potential mri is currently used on a regular basis for our neurology cases we are hopeful that as the cost and time to perform an mri decreases well be able to utilize mri on a more regular basis on the orthopedic and soft tissue surgery services says witsberger we are currently building a new facility for a very powerful 3t mri that should be completed in the spring of 2011 this should allow us to perform faster scans and to use the mri for orthopedic conditions like acl and meninscal tears in addition identification of soft tissue masses prior to surgery could be greatly improved with the use of mri in addition to its potential use in neurologic orthopedic and soft tissue treatment mri is also an important technology for studying diseases of the heart however mri carries a relatively high cost requires the use of anesthesia and has limited availability making its widespread adoption relatively limited at present like with anything new that appears to be costly you have to show an added value for instance is the new technology less invasive to the patient or does it do a better job than other available diagnostic imaging technologies says dr sonya gordon associate professor at the college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences you need to use the best tools to get the most accurate answer without over utilizing a particular technology just because it is new; its a cost-benefit analysis however technology in veterinary medicine changes fast and other evolving imaging modalities may challenge mri as the tool of choice in specific situations ultrasound for instance has improved so much over the last ten years that it would be hard right now to find a reason to use mri in a clinical cardiology case says gordon we know that ultrasound has been around for a long time but the technology has dramatically improved leading to even 3d and 4d imaging options to name a few advances i think we will learn more about the usefulness of ultrasound and particularly well understand how the newer aspects of this technology can help us better understand diseases the current gold standard for evaluating many aspects of heart size and function is considered mri however given the advances in ultrasound imaging: its reduced cost relative to mri its availability the fact that patients do not require anesthesia and the relative ease of image acquisition and interpretation it is much better suited to serial evaluations which are very important in monitoring disease progression and tailoring therapy what is the next upcoming technology in veterinary medicine as cardiologists we strive to offer minimally invasive procedures that can be performed through access to arteries and veins that allow us to put in special devices to fix some heart defects or to dilate areas that are too tight with balloons resumed gordon for her the technological holy grail would be non-invasively repair mitral valves that leak which is a very common problem in old dogs according to gordon another great recent advance in veterinary cardiology was the development of the amplatz canine ductal ocluder (cdo) this was a revolutionary device because unlike previous devices that were used to non-invasively repair a common congenital heart defect in the dog this device was specifically designed for the dog it makes fixing these cardiac defects in the dog much easier and takes much less time its one of those things that costs a little bit more but works very well making it a great advancement gordon said as technology becomes more affordable and accessible in veterinary medicine the ability to integrate these new tools into veterinary practice will become routine and will ultimately improve the quality of life for pets everywhere pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

is a minimally invasive surgery a better option september 23 2010 it is scary when pets have to face the inevitable surgery and go under the knife the fear felt as a pet owner may be alleviated as veterinarians are now embracing a practice that has been around in human operations for years – one which may cause less harm and less stress for pets this technique is called minimally invasive surgery (mis) and it may be the best choice for those pets requiring surgery mis is a surgical technique that makes a small incision in the patient instead of making a large incision that opens the patient up like in open surgery using the minimally invasive technique the surgeon initiates a small incision through the skin and into the body cavity then a scope and camera are used to both visualize and magnify the area being treated next a small specialized instrument is used to perform the surgery within the patient there are many benefits to minimally invasive surgery that are not available in open surgery the incision is not as large as in open surgery which will cause pets less pain pets will be able to go home sooner due to the smaller incision which has a faster healing process in most cases pets can go home the same day or the next day because of the shortened recovery period dr tige witsberger faculty of small animal surgery at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences has performed several minimally invasive surgeries and is optimistic about the growth mis has had within the world of veterinary medicine just like in humans mis is becoming more popular in veterinary medicine because it allows the pet to be more comfortable with a smaller incision in addition a great advantage is the superior visualization achieved by the magnified camera view finally some procedures can be performed more quickly because opening and closure time is greatly reduced explains witsberger the two most common types of surgeries performed through mis are spaying procedures and gastropexies some animals are better candidates for mis the size health condition and type of surgery a pet is having will determine if mis is a good option for any pet ideally pets undergoing mis are larger to allow for easier placement of portals and scopes however it is possible to perform mis in small dogs and cats said witsberger mis cannot be performed on pets that already have excessive bleeding or pets who need to remove massive amounts of tissue as with any surgery there are always risks to consider before making a decision the biggest risk is inadvertent puncture of the abdominal organ during placement of the needle or instruments in the abdominal procedure this most commonly happens to the spleen and bleeding results usually this can be controlled by simply applying pressure but conversion to an open procedure is possible in severe cases explains witsberger another risk occurs because the abdomen must be filled with air for visualization in laparascopy or the lungs may collapse when performing thorascopy in addition anesthetic or cardiac complications are possible said witsberger a disadvantage to mis is some surgeries may be more costly than open surgeries as the equipment and the expertise needed is very expensive however sometimes the hospital stay is shorter so the final cost is equivalent to that of an open surgery while mis may be an option for many pets it is not for everyone be sure to ask your veterinary surgeon if mis is appropriate for your pets procedure about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

minerals: important for quality horse nutrition september 17 2010 when it comes to enjoyment and quality of life a horses true fitness may mean more than just a pasture and some oats while most horses get the majority of their nutrients from pasture and grain many may not be receiving the mineral nutrition needed for optimum health it is important to remember that mineral content of forages and hay are determined by the mineral make-up of the soil where they are grown notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences therefore if the soil lacks the mineral then the plant grown there will not have that mineral since soil types can vary from farm to farm and no one soil type has all minerals needed by a horse mineral supplements are necessary says mays horses foremost need the minerals salt calcium and phosphorus states mays salt is lost through sweat and urine so it should be available free choice to the horse at all times calcium and phosphorus are needed for healthy teeth and bones greatest need is in the first year of a horses life when it grows the majority of its height accordingly lactating mares need higher amounts of calcium and phosphorus to keep elevated levels in their milk calcium and phosphorus should be at least a 1 to 1 ratio explains mays since grains are low in calcium and high in phosphorus some grains are adequate to meet phosphorus requirements but not calcium needs therefore additional calcium is needed to develop the 1 to 1 ratio most hays have a high calcium to phosphorus ratio but the nutritional value of the hay is dependent on the amount of fertilizer applied to the pasture and handling of the hay by using a combination of grain and hay the proper calcium-phosphorus ratio can be obtained of course poor quality forage could result in mineral deficiencies notes mays the minerals magnesium and potassium are also important to a horses well being magnesium is needed for muscle and nervous tissue function while potassium helps maintain the cells ph balance and internal cellular fluid pressure says mays there are additional minerals (needed in very small amounts) that can make a difference in the health of a horse the trace minerals cobalt copper iodine iron selenium and zinc are needed to maintain healthy productive horses cobalt deficiency is rare but cobalt supplementation has been shown to enhance digestion and therefore increase energy from eaten forages notes mays copper is necessary to help the horse fight off bacteria and viruses as well as maintain connective tissue and hoof integrity iron is necessary for blood hemoglobin iodine is important to regulate metabolism and growth selenium is important to reproduction growth and the immune system zinc enhances bone development healthy hooves and coat and reproduction explains mays well balanced mineral supplements should be provided for your horse to insure quality health states mays the horse is a grazing animal with a unique digestive system it has a relatively small stomach and a large hindgut that holds fibrous matter which bacteria work to digest therefore forage should be the first food of choice however forages do not provide sufficient amounts of minerals for horses so supplements are necessary trace mineralized salt in block form will not meet the horses nutritional needs notes mays these blocks are mostly salt and contain low levels of trace mineral because of their high salt content the horse takes in small amounts of the supplement and even smaller amounts of trace minerals determine how much hay and grain your horse eats read the bag label for the analysis of the grain have the forage tested and nutritionally evaluated then determine which minerals and the amounts your horse is lacking explains mays purchase a mineral supplement that is closest to the needed nutrient requirements minerals are important ingredients necessary for your horses good health take the time to determine the amounts that your horse needs when you do youll enhance your horses performance and help prevent health problems pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

pet diseases that make people sick september 9 2010 sixty-four percent of american households own pets this percentage is a large indication of the importance that pets have on todays society people love their pets and their companionship provides positive health benefits to their owners however there are times that pets can cause harm to their owners because of the diseases they carry it is important to be aware of some of the possible diseases that pets can give to people roundworms can cause a disease that can be transmitted to humans by dogs and cats roundworms are parasites that can infect humans because their eggs live in the fecal contaminated soil and enter the body through accidental ingestion dogs and cats can carry adult worms in their intestinal tracts and shed the eggs in the animals feces the damaging eggs can be transmitted to children after the eggs mature one to three weeks in the soil and then infect soil ingesting children some symptoms include cough shortness of breath abdominal pain nausea diarrhea blood in the stool weight loss fatigue and presence of a worm in the victims vomit stool or behind the eye in extreme cases young children can lose an eye explains dr leon russell professor in the veterinary integrative biosciences department at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences (cvm) children pick up the eggs from dogs and cats and their feces the roundworms hatch out and become larvae and they then migrate around the body until they enter the brain and cause damage to avoid this dogs and cats should be on a de-worming treatment it is also important to teach children personal hygiene at a young age so that they can avoid infection and contamination hookworms can also cause health problems to humans via dogs and cats because they can bring them into the house hookworm larvae penetrate the skin and they migrate to the lungs they then go into the trachea where they are swallowed and enter the digestive tract the larvae finally enter the intestines where they mature into adult worms and live off of the hosts blood coughing chest pain and fever are sometimes experienced by infected people severe infections can lead to anemia and protein deficiency toxoplasmosis also known as litter box disease is a rare disease that can be transmitted to humans by ingestion of the eggs one to two days after the eggs are passed in a cats stool this parasite can also be acquired by eating undercooked meat especially pork or mutton general symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes in the head and neck headache mild illness with fever muscle pain and a sore throat the severity of this disease heightens when a pregnant woman is infected because it can lead to an enlarged liver and spleen eye damage hearing loss jaundice and other health problems to the unborn child generally cat scratch disease is not as serious as other diseases but it can still cause health problems a cat infected with the bacteria bartonella henselae can spread the disease to humans via a bite scratch or contact with the cats saliva on broken skin or through the eye most cases improve without treatment if symptoms persist antibiotics may be subscribed to alleviate the conditions symptoms include a bump or a blister at the site of the injury fatigue fever headache swollen lymph nodes and overall discomfort giardiasis is a less publicized disease but it is important to note because 20 000 cases were reported last year alone people can contract this disease by drinking water from infected rivers where animals have defecated especially dogs with diarrhea symptoms include abdominal pain diarrhea gas or bloating headache loss of appetite fever nausea swollen abdomen and vomiting sometimes medicine is used to cure the disease but giardiasis usually goes away on its own giardiasis has been a real problem in day care centers said russell one child will contract the disease and they will easily spread it to the other children some animals and their habitats are sources of exposure to salmonella there are over 2500 types of salmonella bacteria salmonella can become a serious problem so it is important to be aware of the positive impact that cleanliness has on your health symptoms range from nausea to blood in the stool many animals are carriers of salmonella and pet turtles are very common carriers children with pet turtles need to be very careful when cleaning their aquariums notes russell children can easily pick up the bacteria if they dont properly clean and sterilize the aquarium and its contents nor properly wash their hands afterward inadequate cleaning and sanitizing can also result in contamination of other nearby utensils that are exposed as a lot of these symptoms are the same people should consult their healthcare professional if they think they have contracted any of these or similar diseases the best prevention for these diseases is to use common sense and to use good personal hygiene practices said russell if you have pets it is also important to talk with your local veterinarian and your physician so your pet and you can keep up with your vaccinations pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

when the wild meet the tame september 2 2010 with the rapid growth of urbanization these days people are coming into contact with wild animals more frequently than ever this means that our pets are coming into contact with them as well which can sometimes pose a dangerous situation if you own a smaller pet such as a cat or smaller breed of dog it is especially important to protect them and stay mindful of any signs hinting to the presence of wild animals near your home it happens quite frequently that domestic animals are attacked by wild animals said dr james barr clinical assistant professor in emergency and critical care at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences i have personally worked on several cases where coyotes have been confirmed as the culprit but it is not always the case that it is witnessed and the actual animal that did the attacking is sometimes unknown if there are known coyotes in your area be wary of leaving any pets outdoors especially at night coyotes are likely the most menacing of wildlife threats to domestic animals in texas and are often blamed (although not confirmed) for many pet deaths in the wild said barr snakes are another obvious threat to your animals if you have problems with them in your area refer to our venomous snakes of texas pet talk for more information on how to identify those more dangerous species in some cases our pets do not necessarily have to be involved in a violent situation with a wild animal to be affected by them wild animals can indirectly pose a threat to our domesticated friends through the transferring of their bacteria one of the most common infectious causes of renal failure that we see in our icu in domestic animals is leptospirosis explained barr leptospirosis is a disease carried by mice that can be spread to other animals many times with horses or livestock if an opossums or a skunks waste comes into contact with their food source the animal can become very ill when a horse consumes roughage with opossum feces or urine in it this can severely affect their nervous system and often lead to death on the other hand your pet might be the one attacking the wild animal a good example would be when dogs attack cane toads these toads are loud slow abundant in texas and unfortunately toxic to dogs ultimately intoxication with the bufo toxin can result in cardiac arrhythmias hyperthermia seizures coma and death in extreme circumstances said barr typically though barr explained that the clinical signs are mild and include hypersalivation and some tremors most bufo toad intoxications are no worse for wear said barr inevitably the line that separates us from the natural world will be crossed from time to time to protect your pets from wild animals and keep them safe and out of harms way try to stay as educated as possible on the types of wild animals in your area pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

thrifty thinking august 26 2010 occasionally money can get a little tight from time to time no matter whom you are or what your situation for those of us that own pets we want to still make sure that they are not neglected and remain in good care during these times when we are looking for more thrifty pet care options this poses the question: are pricier products worth the extra dough as consumers we want to make sure that we always get the best bang for our buck even when shopping for our pets whether it be food toys or training supplies which ingredients/materials are most important when trying to go with a more cost-conscious or generic brand if you are referring to any general product i would have to look at quality versus monetary value said dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences for any pet owner it is an individual decision to feed kibble canned diets semi-moist all-natural or homemade food and i recommend input from your veterinarian said crist numerous different ingredients are required for a puppy kitten dog or cats wholesome health and it is important that these are provided for them so that they continue to grow and thrive if one is unsure of what to feed then it is best to remain with the big commercial name-brand manufacturers because most of these companies have used feeding trials to test their foods explains crist the best foods are usually tested in actual feeding trials and not by nutritional analysis alone crist explains that one can look for the words complete and balanced nutrition on the product which is a statement that explains that the food has been tested for all life stages of the feline and canine if you are a dog owner chances are you have figured out by now that your pup most likely prefers the deliciousness that canned food has to offer however dry kibble is usually the less expensive choice as well as being easier to handle it can also be a good idea to try to buy in bulk and search for any possible coupons or sales that are going on it is very important that a felines diet contains taurine because research has linked taurine deficiency in cats to fatal heart disease said crist crist explained that commercial name-brand companies do usually provide higher quality grade ingredients but it is still important to read the label and make sure that it reads complete for all life stages and has the association of american feed control officials (aafco) which helps to govern quality control when looking for cheaper alternatives when you are low on cash or when you are simply too lazy at the moment to go and pick up some food for your pet; some people are tempted to share their food with their animals in place of pet food it is important to go easy with ‘people food and one has to be mindful that these cannot replace the balanced diet of the cat or dog said crist foods made for cats are formulated to contain the vitamins mineral and amino acids a cat needs for good health which is why it is important to feed them cat food but if one is looking for an occasional delicacy for their cat crist recommends trying small bits of cheese or cooked tuna chicken fish or liver carrots are a snack that sometimes we humans enjoy that can be fed to a dog along with broccoli green beans sweet potatoes pumpkin and zucchini said crist if you have a picky or more pampered pooch and would like to try out some homemade recipes: http://wwwpetdietscom and http://wwwbalanceitcom are two websites that have some great ideas i do have a quick recipe that i use to make quick and easy cookies for some of my canine patients they are fun very easy and dogs love them! a quick kitty recipe that i have used that has been passed around is this kitty recipe it is very fishy but cats like them going green for your pet is another thrifty pet care alternative when looking to save a few bucks catnip makes a fine low-calorie feline treat that most cats will love said crist both catnip and cat grass which is essentially a cereal grass similar to wheat or oats are easy to grow in a sunny window or purchased from a store either dry or fresh always be sure that the plant you are offering your furry feline is safe for them but do not be alarmed if your cat regurgitates the kitty grass that can be bought in-stores; some will do this and it is nothing to be alarmed by said crist if your cat is in fact regurgitating the kitty grass the catnip should suffice if any questions arise about the safety of a plant please refer to the aspcas website for more information or follow this link http://wwwaspcaorg/pet-care/poison-control/plants/ if it is believed that that the feline or any other animal might have eaten a dangerous plant call your veterinarian immediately or contact the animal poison control center at 888-426-4435 another good tip for dog owners might be to cut down on the number of unnecessary treats given throughout the day instead try ice cubes or bones that will last longer than a treat this will help save you money as well as help any canines who are a little overweight so if you find yourself in a period where you are pinching pennies remember that there are always thrifty pet care alternatives and options that can help keep you and your pet healthy and happy pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

mosquito borne illnesses august 19 2010 2010 has been the hottest year on record in the united states so far the sweltering heat mixed with the wet summer days has increased mosquito activity as mosquito season is still lurking there are some important diseases associated with mosquitoes that can be transmitted to humans and pets that everyone needs to be aware of heartworm disease most commonly affects dogs however cats and humans are sometimes affected heartworm disease is caused by heartworms which live in the blood vessel connecting the heart to the lungs it is a life-threatening disease for dogs individuals are infected with the worm through the bite of a mosquito carrying the larvae of the worm it can be prevented in dogs and cats with monthly pills or topical treatments once an individual is infected treatment is very difficult and is risky treatment of heartworm disease is expensive and potentially dangerous explains dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences there are numerous side effects to treatments for example the patient can develop blood clots the best option is to take preventative measures and develop a monthly heartworm preventative schedule to give to your pets the west nile virus is another mosquito borne illness that is common among animals it is spread when a mosquito bites a bird infected with the virus and then in turn bites another individual to spread the disease it first appeared in the united states in new york city in 1999 since then it has spread throughout the united states horses are the most commonly affected animals humans and dogs are also affected but on much rarer occasions the symptoms of the west nile virus are similar in horses and humans notes stickney both victims develop neurologic symptoms that include stumbling seizures and inability to use limbs when dogs are exposed to the virus their body normally does not show any outward reactions because their body usually fights it off when they do develop the disease dogs also show neurological signs at this point there is no treatment for the west nile virus scientists are currently working on a vaccine for humans one of the most dangerous mosquito borne illnesses that affects horses and humans is eastern equine encephalitis (eee) it affects the central nervous system and causes severe complications that may lead to death this virus also originates from mosquitoes biting an infected bird and then passing that infection on to their victim eee is also known as the sleeping sickness because its onset is very fast and is hard to diagnose symptoms of eee in horses usually break through within five days of the infected mosquito bite initially horses are depressed and quiet they experience impaired vision inability to swallow and aimless wandering as the virus strengthens the horse will start to exhibit paralysis convulsions and ultimately death death normally occurs after two to three days of the infected horse showing signs vaccines are available for horses and it is recommended that they get them yearly most people who are exposed to eee do not have any complications the rare few who are affected incur severe symptoms initially they experience headaches fever chills and vomiting the symptoms may advance to disorientation seizures coma or sometimes even death one can take preventive measures to avoid the occurrence of mosquitoes and mosquito borne illnesses avoid being outside from dusk until dawn during mosquito season when mosquitoes are most active explains stickney get rid of standing water if you have a pond lake or tank on your property put mosquito dunks in the water to prevent mosquito eggs and larvae from developing dont depend on flea and tick labeled repellants to ward off mosquitoes because your pet can still get bitten prior to mosquito season it is important to do a check up and mosquito proof houses fix or install window and door screens so that there are no leaks into the house make sure to remove areas or cover containers with standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs dont assume that just because your cat or dog has long hair that mosquitoes wont bite them because they will notes stickney if your pet is an inside animal they are also affected by mosquitoes because mosquitoes can force themselves inside too the best method is to take preventative measures because with all these mosquito transmitted diseases an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

keeping your horse cool in the summer august 5 2010 cool as a cucumber … but what if you are a horse! summer heat and humidity can be a dangerous combination for active horses heat and humidity affect the horse and with intense exercising the excess heat has difficulty dissipating notes dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences heat is a normal by-product of working muscles and increases during periods of increased exercise explains mays normally a horse cools itself by sweating which causes heat loss and thus its body cools as sweat evaporates from the skins surface when humidity is high less moisture can evaporate from the skin surface therefore the surface blood vessels will enlarge to help rid the horses body of excess heat overheating or hyperthermia in the horse is due to a disturbance in the heat regulating mechanism of the horses body says mays in addition to summer heat and humidity poor stable ventilation prolonged exposure to sun extreme exercise transportation/trailering stress as well as excess weight and poor conditioning may contribute to overheating if your horse does become overheated move the horse to a shady area or to a cool well-ventilated barn then spray with cool water and place ice packs on the horses head and large blood vessels on the neck and the inside of its legs states mays be careful to not spray the horses face or get water in its ears; just sponge these areas gently horses naturally tend to cool out while walking rather than standing still notes mays therefore application of ice packs can be challenging allow the horse to have several swallows of cool clean fresh water every few minutes there is a possibility of colic if your horse drinks large quantities of water in a short period of time to help your horse beat the heat provide plenty of fresh cool water notes mays keep water bucket or trough clean to promote drinking average size work horses can consume over 25 gallons of water per day when the temperature is above 70 degrees limit strenuous riding to late evening or early morning when the temperature is lower use less tack in the hot summer by minimizing saddle pads and leg boots also clip your horses coat and keep its mane and tail trimmed heat stroke can happen to horses whether they are working hard standing in stifling stables or traveling in unventilated trailers notes mays call a veterinarian and take immediate action if your horse has elevated respiration or pulse (in an inactive horse) body temperature above 103 degrees or irregular heart beat do the skin pinch test to check your horses hydration says mays test for dehydration by pinching the skin along the horses neck the skin should snap back quickly if the pinched area collapses slowly the horse is dehydrated hot weather does require that you give your horse special care but you and your horse can lessen summers hot days when you practice these cool tips to beat the heat pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

venomous snakes of texas august 5 2010 texans are no strangers to snakes especially during the summertime when many of them are out and about copperhead coral cottonmouth and rattler: these are the names given to the four species of venomous snakes in texas it is a good idea to educate others as well as yourself about these snakes and how to avoid them as best as possible snakes tend to follow their food source said teresa shisk-saling rvt veterinary technician at the texas a &m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences if you have problems with snakes in your home area make sure to clean up any trash debris wood piles rock piles or building material laying on the ground shisk-saling continued last summer when it was very hot out a friend of mine had a problem with copperheads in her dog kennels so she took several litter pans and placed them along her fence line and kept them full of water after that there were no more snakes in the kennels because they were just looking for water problem solved broad banded copperhead out of these four snakes the copperhead is the most prevalent in the bryan/college station area they will mostly eat rodents and belong to the pit viper family this makes them unique in that they have a pit located between the eye and the nostril on either side of the head these openings house a pair of extremely sensitive infrared detecting organs which in effect give the snakes a sixth sense that helps them to find and perhaps even judge the size of the small warm-blooded prey they can look very similar to the water moccasin and are sometimes referred to as the land moccasin in general you want to be cautious around downed/decaying trees rock cuts and sheet metal lying on the ground trash rock or wood piles coral snake this snake is not to be confused by the similar colored and non-venomous milk snake whose red and black bands connect remember red and yellow kills a fellow red and black is a friend to jack mostly the coral snakes in the eastern part of the state eat snakes and those in western part eat lizards they tend to be very shy and secretive and will spend most of their time underground in deep leave litter dens and burrows there is no anti-venom being manufactured in the united states that is available for people bitten by this snake they possess the most potent venom out of any north american snake but thankfully account for less than one percent of the number of annual snake bites respiratory paralysis can occur suddenly or within hours after a coral snake bite therefore intubation and ventilation should be employed in a victim in anticipation for this western diamondback rattlesnake another member of the pit viper family these snakes primarily eat rabbits or other small mammals you can find them mostly south and west of the bryan/college station area and are likely hear them before you see them there are a number of snakes venomous and non-venomous that will beat their tail in grass and leaf litter trying to sound like a rattlesnake these snakes are a little more aggressive and will rarely back away from confrontation so it is best to always steer clear water moccasin (cotton mouth) these semi-aquatic pit vipers eat fish and frogs all snakes swim on top of the water however when they stop to rest or evaluate their surroundings venomous snakes will continue to float on top of the water and non-venomous will sink to where only their head will be visible (below: the non-venomous yellow-belly watersnake) (below: the venomous water moccasin) when water moccasins feel threatened they will stand their ground and flatten their bodies out to make themselves appear bigger also they will hiss and gape their mouths open revealing the lighter colored tissue in their mouth hence their name occasionally you will find a snake stretched out warming itself in a sunny area; just leave the snake alone and respect their space if you are going to continue admiring it these four snakes as well as most snakes act more on the defense than offence one of my favorite statistics is that 98 percent of snake bites happen to males between the ages of 18 and 28 and alcohol is also involved said shisk-saling despite urban myth these snakes do not chase people this is not to say that you may be standing between the snake and their hiding place (den cubby hole etc); giving them a reason to head your direction said shisk-saling the underbelly of a snake is very sensitive to vibration which helps them to sense any other animals approaching about 20 percent of venomous snake bites in people are dry (non-envenomated) bites but if you are bitten it is always good to be checked out by a doctor regardless if a person is bitten and envenomated by a snake they will know it because the pain will be immediate and intense the most important thing is to stay calm and remember the steps that you need to take following the bite explained shisk-saling anti-venom binds to and neutralizes the venom that the snake has injected into you halting any further damage but does not reverse damage already done thus it should be administered as soon as possible do not waste time trying to locate the snake if it is a venomous snake bite the bite pattern will be very different from a non-venomous snake said shisk-saling go immediately to the nearest medical facility and call ahead to let them know that you are coming; not every emergency room carries anti venom but they should have the expertise to stabilize the bite and take the necessary action said shisk-saling some ers have nurses and doctors that have experience and knowledge about how to treat snake bites another reason not to pretend like you are jeff corwin off of animal planet is the fact that anti-venom is not always easy to come by if available at all and is extremely expensive do not apply a tourniquet ice or heat and if possible lower the bitten area below the heart while someone else drives advised shisk-saling so remember snakes are not evil creatures seeking to attack innocent people even the venomous ones so if you are in a snakes home territory leave it alone if the snake is in your territory unless it poses an immediate threat leave it alone it will move on so that you can as well about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu pictures provided by teresa shisk-saling rvt veterinary technician at the texas a &m college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences print

dealing with the loss of a pet july 29 2010 people have a special bond with animals because animals provide unconditional love throughout their lifetime therefore it can be very hard to cope after the loss of a pet it is very common for people to experience grief as a response and everyone grieves in different ways grief is as individual as those who experience it explains lucy wendt registered veterinary technician in the small animal clinic at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences at texas a&m university (cvm) grief describes the reaction to a loss including the emotional and physical process of fully understanding what has happened and coming to terms with it there are five stages to grief those stages include: denial/shock anger bargaining/guilt depression and acceptance/resolution the order length and degree of the stages vary with each individual some stages may not even occur at all one should accept the stages of grief and let them pass naturally in order to let the initial mourning pass however coping with the loss of any pet or other significant companion is a lifelong battle the affected individual needs to accept the reality of the loss experience the pain of the loss adjust to the environment without the pet and withdraw emotional energy from the deceased pet to reinvest that energy in other relationships and activities says wendt you should remember that it is absolutely normal to grieve over the loss of a pet you need to accept and know that you did everything you could to help your pet pet psychologists are available to individuals who are not able to talk to anyone else about their loss there are also support groups and hotlines available for more information on supportive methods visit wwwhumananimalbondtrustorg wwwaplborg wwwpetlosscom and wwwpet-lossnet when one is ready to invest in another companion animal wendt recommends that the new pet should not be adopted with the intention to replace the deceased pet your deceased pet is irreplaceable declares wendt never adopt with the purpose to replace an animal as you will be disappointed i recommend adopting a different breed and a different sex so that you dont ever compare the two it is not fair to your new pet nor is it fair to your deceased pet to have preconceived notions and expect them to be the same so that the void can be filled one has to go with their own instincts when deciding whether or not adopting a new pet is too soon every person is different as some deal with grief more readily than others people have a hard time dealing with the loss of the pet but some people have an even harder time deciding when it is the right time to euthanize a pet in pain i always let the client know that their pets will tell them said wendt they will tell you with their eyes like humans their eyes are the windows to their soul it is up to individual to decide if they should be in the room with their pet during the euthanasia i do not recommend small children being in the room but it is up to the owner to decide if they should be in the room or not explains wendt just remember this is a time that you need to be selfless for your pet you may want to be there until the end sometimes it is more important for the owner to be strong for the animal like the animal was strong for them honesty is always the best policy when trying to explain to a child what has happened to the deceased animal it is always best to tell the child the truth said wendt children are more resilient than we think and they deserve the right to know the truth let them know that their pet died and that we are all going to miss him/her but we will get through it together animals grieve too when dealing with other pets that bonded with the deceased pet it is best to sit with them and talk to them this process helps the animals as well as humans the biggest thing to remember when coping with the loss of a pet is that grieving is a natural process and in order to alleviate some of the pain one has to allow for that grieving process to naturally occur pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

traveling with your pet july 22 2010 vacation season is here! for most people this usually involves long car rides or traveling via airplane however not everyone can part with their beloved pets and would rather bring them along if you are planning on taking your pet on an airplane the best thing to do is to first check with your airline about their policies most airlines require a rabies certificate so you will want to make sure that your pet is up to date with all of their vaccines explains dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences depending on where you are flying you may also need to get a health certificate which typically needs to be completed within 10 days before the day of travel stickney advises for this to be planned in advanced because not every veterinarian is accredited for this service airlines have become more proactive with tending to the needs of animals such as the temperature in the area they are stored in or making sure they have access to water even so it would be wise to be more cautious when flying if your pet is older or has health issues also remember to bring any and all medications they might need you do not want to be half way across the country trying to locate a veterinarian or prescription make sure that the dog or cat always has a collar and tags on them but also be careful that there is not anything hanging loosely from the collar that could get caught in their crate said stickney a microchip is an excellent way to permanently identify your pet deciding to stick it out on the road versus the air if you are bringing your dog or cat along for the ride make sure they have had their yearly exam and are healthy enough to handle the trip if you are traveling to a different climate with a pet it would be wise to educate yourself on any diseases or problems that the animals in that area can experience for instance when traveling from a northern climate to a southern climate your dog might need to be put on a heart worm and flea preventative for the trip said stickney along those same lines if your pet is used to being in a cooler area and the place you are traveling is hotter or more humid this can be particularly rough on them extra efforts should be made to make sure that they have plenty of rest and water and do not over exert themselves stickney recommends when traveling with a dog or cat that you always have a carrier or leash on hand in case of unforeseen circumstances like car trouble it is best to keep cats in a carrier when you are in the car so that they are not able to hop around and possibly cause any dangerous situations for the driver riding in the cab is always best for the pet but if a dog must ride in the truck bed then make sure they are in a carrier i have seen too many injuries and fatalities in emergency hospitals that were related to a dog being in the back of a truck bed tied up or with no security at all said stickney dogs can easily suffer burns from hot truck bed surfaces either on the bottom of their paws or belly chaining your dog up in the back of a truck bed can lead to them accidentally hanging themselves as well also as cute as it is and as much as they might enjoy it letting a dog hang out of a window can lead to severe injuries or death it would be a good idea leading up to a trip to do a few short test drives with your pet if he is not used to riding in a vehicle get him excited about riding along then eventually make the rides longer and longer to help wean the pet into the idea of a long drive recommends stickney this can help minimize fear and anxiety in the dog for the big trip especially if the dog is prone to getting nauseous there are sedatives that you can give dogs or cats if the animal has anxiety consult with your veterinarian for a prescription for your dog or cat then on the big day administer the medicine around one hour before your departure on an empty stomach if the pet is prone to car sickness or vomiting and the owner would like to use medication we prescribe dimenhydrinate which is the same drug that is used for people said stickney always consult with your veterinarian for correct dosing and safety of any drug for your pet along with running some test drives with your animal before the big trip it is a good idea to test out the medication beforehand to make sure that you will get the expected result every dog reacts differently to medication and some are not affected by sedatives said stickney stickney explains that many sedatives decrease a dogs ability to regulate their own body temperature; therefore it is important to keep them in a temperature controlled environment when traveling working air-conditioning in the car is essential the important thing when traveling with your pet is not to just throw them in the car and go some pets are more high maintenance than others but as long as you are sensitive to your particular pets needs when traveling; you can insure a much more enjoyable vacation pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

hydration habits july 13 2010 summer is here and most people seem to flock toward water whether it be the swimming pool out back or the beach these activities go hand and hand with the importance to stay hydrated with clean and fresh water our dogs however dont know the difference between a dasani and a toilet bowl many people like to include their dogs when swimming in the pool and as long as you keep an eye on them this can be a joy for both you and your canine friend but should you be worried about them drinking or ingesting the pool water the concentration levels of the chlorine should not be high enough to cause any problems for your dog if he takes a few laps of pool water explains dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences however if you have a saline or salt water pool this would be very similar to ocean water which is bad for your dogs kidneys make sure there is always fresh water available near your dog stickney recommends changing this water out twice a day and keeping it as cold as possible after the fun in the sun is over most will want to clean up and cool off if you have been at the beach or lake all day it would not be a bad idea to give sparky a bath stickney advises not to give your dog a bath more than twice a week because dogs have natural oils in their skin you want to be careful not to over bathe them which could result in them having dry skin and dandruff rinsing them off with a hose is usually deemed efficient you are freshening up in the powder room when suddenly you realize that your humming has an undertone of sloshing noises only to turn around to find your fluffy friend who was drenching you in kisses just moments before drinking out of the family toilet! sound familiar this is definitely not a healthy habit for a dog to have due to the risk of them consuming the chemicals used to clean toilets not to mention all of the bacteria in there said stickney in a dogs eyes water is water and this includes standing water that can collect in miscellaneous areas around a property or street when taking your dog for walks or letting him run around a property try to avoid letting them drink this water other animals can urinate or defecate near standing water which can cause a common parasite called giardia to give your dog severe diarrhea if he drinks this water there is also a bacterial disease spread through animal urine called leptospirosis that can cause dogs to have liver and kidney failure explains stickney many people are very aware of the importance of having clean water as a part of their dogs diet others might have a picky pooch that turns his or her nose up at the site of anything second rate there are even vitamin water beverages now that can be purchased for mans best friend this water can also contain an assortment of flavors such as beef gutter water liver etc as long as your dog is regularly on a well-balanced diet there will not be any vitamin deficiencies grinned stickney in reference to this cute but unnecessary invention in most cases dogs will naturally regulate their water intake to meet their needs however if you suspect that your dog is dehydrated or you have a hyperactive dog that is running around a lot outside in the heat you should encourage the dog to take a break and drink cool water dog owners can also try switching out dry dog food for canned wet food which contains more water if they feel that the dog is having problems staying hydrated said stickney on the opposite hand very rarely will dogs binge drink but if you observe this unusual behavior in your dog hyponatremia can occur just as it would if humans consumed an excess of water one medical cause for this behavior could be acute renal failure which can be detected in a blood test one cause of this is a dog ingesting antifreeze that might have been on the floor in the owners garage the antifreeze causes crystals to form in the dogs kidney which disrupts proper fluid and electrolyte balance stickney continues addisons disease caused by hypoadrenocorticisn in dogs is also another possibility for binge drinking behavior this disease is trickier to diagnose but it affects the dogs ability to regulate electrolyte levels in their body most people do not think twice about how often we come into contact with water on a daily basis just remember that your dog does not always have the same common sense about what is healthy for them when it comes to water whether it is something they decide to drink or something they decide to jump into help them make it a good clean splash! pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

emergency preparedness with pets july 6 2010 if an area is not safe for you it is not safe for your pet as hurricane season is upon us remember those words when preparing for any emergency evacuation with your pet i never advise that you or your companion animal stay at home if an evacuation is ordered explains dr wesley bissett assistant professor at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine (cvm) and lead faculty member for the newly formed veterinary emergency team (vet) if you are disabled or can-not afford to leave there is always help provided during these situations so you can get out of harms way if you stay you put your life and the life of your pet at risk before leaving preparations have to be made to insure the safest recovery of pets bissett recommends bringing several days worth of food and water bringing several weeks worth of medication bringing health records so they can get the best care if they are placed in a shelter or away from the owner and making sure the pet is always identified by bringing current photos and proof of ownership if a pet is not able to go with the owner there are several options in place during emergency situations bissett recommends shelters as there are co-shelters where people and animals can stay together as well as animal only shelters there is also an emergency response effort that is federally mandated that requires the government to come up with a plan to provide for companion animals during an emergency situation check with the local county emergency team prior to leaving to ask for assistance and guidance the main thing to remember is to always be prepared natural disasters happen when one least expects them it is also good to be familiar with all of the natural disasters that affect each area and the best way to react to them if one is prepared with an emergency kit that has containers for food and water medical records identification information medications and comfort items than one should be ready when an emergency strikes it is also important to assemble a first aid kit for pets in case of an emergency the first aid kit should contain diarrhea medication hydrogen peroxide eye dropper towel blanket ice cream sticks that can be used as splints scissors tweezers liquid dish detergent to clean mild wounds and non-adherent bandage pads the key is to get everyone reunited after an emergency said bissett the best way to avoid problems is to plan prepare and stay informed for a more comprehensive list on developing an emergency plan and evacuation kit visit these websites:http://wwwdshsstatetxus/idcu/health/zoonosis/animal/disaster/http://wwwfemagov/medialibrary/media_records/2484 pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

small rodents as pets july 2 2010 think of mice and men are they foe or friend not your customary selection for a pet but with some insight and some guidance you may be more receptive to the idea of a small rodent becoming a suitable pet for your family rats are probably the most social and interactive of the small rodents notes dr sharman hoppes dvm diplomate abvp clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences rats are gentle and seldom bite says hoppes they are active during the day and are fairly easy to take care of rats dont have special dietary needs or sensitive stomachs other small rodents such as mice and hamsters can nip more and tend to be active at night notes hoppes guinea pigs and chinchillas are gentle sweet pets but they have special dietary needs and all of their teeth continuously grow if handled gently gerbils are unlikely to bite explains hoppes they have few health problems and are the cleanest of all the commonly kept pet rodents to determine which pet rodent may be best for you hoppes suggests that you evaluate your expectations if you want a social active pet that needs lots of attention and activity a rat chinchilla or guinea pig is a great pet states hoppes rats are so social that they should not be housed alone if you are more interested in observing your pet and dont have as much time a gerbil hamster or mouse is an option; they are happy in their cage notes hoppes if you are a night owl then hamsters may be best since they tend to sleep all day and run in their wheel all night rodents are animals and therefore require care states hoppes all pet rodents need a large cage chew toys ladders plastic or pvc pipe and daily interaction their cage needs to be cleaned one to two times a week to keep ammonia levels down also keeping the cage clean will help decrease the incidence of respiratory disease paper bedding aspen or walnut shavings are best notes hoppes corncob pine and cedar shavings should not be used rodents need to have fresh water and food guinea pigs and chinchillas have a special need for unlimited timothy hay since they have continuously growing cheek teeth the hay helps keep the teeth from overgrowing additionally guinea pigs need vitamin c daily all rodents can have a small amount of fruits and vegetables for treats none of them need seeds chinchillas need daily dust baths and they and guinea pigs are very sensitive to heat and humidity both can develop heatstroke in temperatures as low as 80-85 f especially if the humidity is greater than forty percent many rodents will get obese in captivity so you should have exercise wheels exercise balls or a safe rodent-proof room to play in notes hoppes pet rodents do not need vaccinations states hoppes there are few diseases to be concerned with and while salmonella infection has been documented it is rare rat bite fever caused by a bacterial infection may occur secondary to a rat bite it can be prevented by immediately disinfecting any rat bite wound it is important to keep pet rats away from wild rats and to wash your hands after handling any small mammal guinea pigs and chinchillas are susceptible to ring worm so any hair loss or scaly patchy areas on their skin should be seen by a veterinarian for evaluation and treatment when picking out a pet rodent you should select an active social rodent with clean eyes clean nose and normal teeth the skin should be well groomed and clean their feces should be well formed there should be no lumps or bumps on their skin rats are prone to mammary tumors and hamsters often have diarrhea (wet tail) many rodents are prone to respiratory disease the life span of pet rodents varies mice and hamsters live one to two years rats two to three years gerbils three to five years guinea pigs five to seven years and chinchillas live eight to 12 years or longer small rodents should not be pets for small children notes hoppes children less than 10 years old should be supervised closely when handling small rodents the care and monitoring of any pet is ultimately the parents responsibility pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

birds as pets june 25 2010 four-legged with fur or two-legged with feathers … which would be the best small pet for me birds can be included in your lifestyle but as with most pets there are certain criteria that should be considered birds can be wonderful pets but they are high maintenance notes dr sharman hoppes dvm diplomate abvp (avian) clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences birds do have certain advantages over other pets in that they do not have to be walked and they are housed in a cage says hoppes birds are smart they talk and like to play and snuggle they love to be around people and are usually very interactive however birds do have messy eating habits and can be noisy small and large birds can be loud notes hoppes birds require lots of attention and may scream or yell when they dont get it they are very social and do need daily interaction and time outside of their cage explains hoppes they have destructive beaks and can eat walls tables and wood work if allowed out unsupervised hoppes encourages prospective pet bird caretakers to research and find out about the personality of a bird before purchase dont base your decision on the cool factor color or size she also suggests that you purchase pet birds from quality breeders birds from pet stores and bird marts have a higher chance of disease since so many birds are housed together also some rescue organizations may have birds for adoption the type of bird best for you is determined by your lifestyle if you are busy or live in an apartment a smaller less demanding bird like a budgie or cockatiel is best says hoppes if you have more time and a house where neighbors will not be bothered by loud noise then a bigger bird may work for you larger birds typically cost more and so do their cages and toys notes hoppes cages need to be big enough for the bird to exercise climb around or fly in play gyms outside of the cage provide a place to climb and exercise a travel cage is beneficial when confined in a car correct diet and environment are important for maintaining a birds good health states hoppes birds should be fed a commercial pelleted diet with fresh fruits and vegetables seeds and nuts should be offered as treats only birds do not need large amounts of food but enough to last throughout the day she notes that proper diet and exercise help deter obesity atherosclerosis and heart disease in birds fresh water is needed daily for drinking hoppes notes that since parrots come from warm humid environments they need a bath several times a week; this may include showering misting with a spray bottle or offering a bowl of water for bathing bacterial infections from dirty cages and dirty water are common as are respiratory infections due to the birds sensitive airways explains hoppes they can get sick from poor ventilation mold in the air and fumes like teflon there are also several bird viruses: polyoma psittacine beak and feather and avian herpes virus that are potential pathogens in the pet parrot one of the more important diseases pet bird owners should be aware of is chlamydophila psittaci a disease that can be transferred from birds to humans it is most commonly transmitted to people with compromised immune systems: organ transplant recipients people on steroids or the very young and old this disease can cause runny nose eyes and upper respiratory signs in birds and progress to pneumonia or liver disease if untreated and causes flu-like symptoms in people hoppes notes that a new bird should be tested for this disease before coming into your home birds can be one of the most rewarding pets but you need to be an educated owner says hoppes birds can develop health and behavioral issues when not cared for appropriately anyone thinking about becoming a bird owner should learn about the different species and determine which bird would fit best into their life not all veterinarians see birds so you should locate a veterinarian close to you for a well bird check up when you obtain your bird and to have someone available in case of an emergency according to hoppes big birds have longer life spans and smaller birds have shorter life spans small birds such as budgies and love birds can live 7-12 year cockatiels and conures 12-20 years larger parrots 40-50 years and the largest parrots (the macaws) can live 60 to 80 years with good nutrition and a welcoming environment your pet bird can live a full life and bring you pleasure and companionship about pet talk: pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

the dogs space at your place june 17 2010 we all know that a happy pet makes for a happy home so for dog owners it is our job to make sure that the home is a safe and comfortable living space from big ranches to one bedroom flats our dogs are forced to adapt to the homes that we have chosen the best thing you can do for a dog is to keep their needs in mind the same way that you keep your own every day dogs need food water and shelter however most dogs need more than that explains dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences dogs have emotional needs as well as physical requirements they are social animals and need to be a part of the family or be included in your daily routine some dogs acquire bad habits due to neglect or boredom they begin to bark or express numerous emotions such as anxiety aggression boredom playfulness hunger and can sometimes even become destructive crist continues enrichment toys are recommended to help with this these usually have foods placed in them and then the dog has to work on getting the food out over a period of time for potential dog owners who live in smaller environments such as an apartment condo or duplex-type of space it would be best to purchase a small breed dog with an expected mild-mannered behavior a crate can help limit access to areas that are off limits until all household rules are learned such as what not to chew on and areas the pet is not to eliminate in it should be just large enough for the pet to stand and turn around in and strong enough to securely contain the pet crist continues it might be wise to place the crate in your bedroom or a nearby place especially if the pet is a puppy then one can hear the puppy whine if it needs to get outside to eliminate according to crist older pets should be kept nearby so that crating is not associated with social isolation once the pet is comfortable in the crate near you one can gradually move it to the location you prefer crating a pet for separation anxiety will not solve the issue a crate can prevent the pet from being destructive; however the pet can be injured if trying to escape from the crate separation anxiety should be handled with desensitization training and counter-conditioning an owner may need to consult with a board certified veterinary behaviorist for further treatment we do have to be mindful if this pet is a puppy or an older dog because each requires different needs suggests crist puppies less than six months old should not be left alone or neglected for more than three to four hours at a time because they cannot control their bladders for long periods of time another consideration is if the apartment has a balcony then one has to always be mindful that the pet does not fall from the balcony stairs could also present a problem to some dogs if they are a senior pet or if they have arthritis some people with yards or larger properties often have dog houses for dogs that sleep outside or are outside for extended periods of time the idea that a dog is an ‘outside dog does not mean that the owner cares any less for it but if your dog is going to be outside for the majority of the day there are some things to keep in mind some believe that outdoor dogs can have a higher risk for being abandoned said crist when a dog lives as part of the family inside the house a tight and caring household bond can be formed occasionally some puppies that grow up outside receive no socialization or behavior training some dogs may become bored or lonely and can develop bad habits such as digging in the yard barking chewing on outdoor equipment sprinklers or housing crist added that some county laws do not allow the pet to be chained up outside and require the pet to have food water and shelter some dogs that are unsupervised in the yard or outside can be physically injured from hazards that might be present in the backyard they might want to chase other creatures like a skunk raccoon possum or other animals that might visit at night for outside dogs toxic plants and meter readers that may spray the pet with a deterrent for their own protection are also things to be mindful of so whether you carry your canine in your purse with you everywhere or give him the ranch to roam as long as you keep your tail-waggers best interest in mind along the way it will keep your home a happy one pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

horse cribbing and dentistry june 17 2010 pet owners sometimes forget that animals need dental maintenance just like we do it is important to stay on top of routine dentistry in order to help prevent more serious problems in the future aside from routine dental conditions that occur in horses owners might encounter a behavior that is referred to as cribbing or crib biting that can have a negative effect on the incisor teeth with cribbing (or crib biting) a fixed object is grabbed with the incisor teeth and air is drawn in repetitively through the mouth by the horse causing a characteristic grunting noise this behavior causes an abnormal appearance of the incisor teeth due to excessive wear explains dr cleet griffin clinical assistant professor at texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences usually this behavior is associated with boredom or confinement of horses a remedy for every cribber does not exist prevention can include the use of mechanical devices to prevent grasping objects such as a muzzle the muzzle is worn continually by the horse and limits cribbing behavior but not eating or drinking in my experience these seem very humane and work well at preventing the behavior a ‘cribbing collar fits very snug around the throat latch area of the neck of the horse and discourages the horse from engulfing air these have been utilized commonly to help prevent cribbing behavior other approaches that have been practiced include surgery acupuncture nutritional alterations and environmental alterations to deter the behavior if a horse is cribbing and the owner is not aware of it they may notice that wood has been chewed away from the feed manger or surrounding fencing the behavior can also be very destructive to plastic water buckets and feed buckets an annual oral exam can detect abnormal wear of the incisor teeth that results from cribbing the annual oral exam also helps to detect sharp dental points that may cause discomfort during eating or riding the examination detects abnormalities of eruption damaged crowns and overgrown teeth as well stated griffin in texas it is unlawful for anyone other than a licensed veterinarian to perform dental procedures on horses for the annual visit horses require a primary care veterinarian who is accustomed to performing routine dental procedures in horses there are some veterinarians who limit their practice to dentistry and have undergone additional training to perform specialized procedures who may be needed in certain situations sometimes dental emergencies need to be addressed the most common emergencies that involve teeth in my experience usually occur in juvenile age horses and it is not uncommon for these horses to sustain traumatic fracture of the bone involving the upper or lower incisor teeth said griffin this can damage erupted teeth or the developing permanent teeth under the gum in many instances surgical wiring can be used to fix the bone and teeth back into place for healing also i have seen horses in which an acute fracture to the crown of an incisor tooth or canine tooth has occurred causing exposed bleeding dental pulp said griffin with fractured teeth there are emergency treatments that can be undertaken in many instances by the veterinarian to reduce pain and prevent contamination of the exposed dental tissue in an effort to allow healing and eventual restoration of crown besides obvious signs such as bleeding like the described case above there are other things to watch for that might indicate oral discomfort in a horse if while riding your horse displays abnormal irritated behavior such as head tossing gaping the mouth or slinging the head (especially after a bit is put into place) this could be a sign that the horse needs dental work if the horse begins to exhibit unusual behavior while eating or chewing such as excessive slobbering tilting the head to the side or dropping large chunks of poorly chewed feed material that is a sign that some dental work needs to be done said griffin most dental issues can be resolved or prevented with a yearly exam if horse owners become complacent and neglect their horses dental maintenance it is possible that more severe problems could lead to esophageal choke or impaction colic about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

does your pet need a summer shave june 17 2010 the summer weather in texas can become almost unbearable especially here in the brazos valley its the kind of weather that makes you realize how difficult it would be to survive without air conditioning we texans may complain about the intense summer heat but probably wont suffer near as much as pets that spend more time outdoors the hot and humid weather can create miserable circumstances especially for long haired pets dogs that are bred in cooler temperatures can develop problems because of this heat said dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences for example the heat makes it difficult for the dog to pant which allows them to cool themselves down long hair also makes finding and removing ticks more difficult with short hair the ticks are much more easily recognizable then there are the texans all too familiar friends the mosquitoes it is a myth that long-haired animals get bit by mosquitoes less than short haired animals said stickney if your pets are going to be outside in the heat this summer there are some things to take into consideration make sure that all animals have access to fresh water (cold if possible) and some form of shade the shade is necessary to help prevent sunburns hot spots and blistering on the bottom of more sensitive doggie paws if you have a dog that is not usually outside or is going to be outside for an extended period of time sunscreen is an option to consider there are sunscreens that are made specifically for dogs and can be applied to areas with less hair such as the nose ears and belly another important fact to note is that dogs can have heat exhaustion and heat strokes just like people owners should encourage high energy dogs to take breaks when playing out in the sun because of this also people who exercise with their dogs either with a bike or by jogging should keep in mind that dogs (especially smaller breeds) need to be conditioned to work up their stamina so be mindful of sparkys capabilities before dragging him along on that three mile bike ride owners will sometimes make the mistake of grabbing a hose that has been lying out in the sun to spray down animals such as horses or dogs but the hot water that has been sitting in the hose can scald them before the cooler water comes through said stickney if you allow your cats to go outside the only problem would be mattes and/or hairballs in long-haired cats but this can be managed by brushing them daily to help keep them clean said stickney some people prefer the look of their cat when shaved which is perfectly fine however there is no medical need to shave your cat unless they are having problems with these things veterinarians will most likely hold different opinions on when or if to shave your pets during the summer heat depending on the region that you live in some might argue that long hair on certain breeds will work as a cooling mechanism this would not hold true in our climate because of the levels of humidity explains stickney if your dog seems exhausted and overheated ask your local veterinarian if shaving could be an option for you and your pet by keeping an eye on your pet and exercising caution when exercising in the heat and cooling your pet off the dog days of summer will be more enjoyable for everyone pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

fostering for thought june 10 2010 ever have a soft spot for that starry-eyed cat or dog behind the caged door at an animal shelter but maybe you are not sure if you can take on the responsibilities that come with being a pet owner for whatever reason just yet fostering a pet could be a good option that allows you to feed your personal wants while also keeping the best interest of the animal in mind many animals are fostered most are dogs cats puppies and kittens sometimes reptiles and pocket pets are fostered until a permanent home can be found dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences explains in the brazos valley area especially there are many young adults and college students who are in a transition stage in their life due to school or other reasons because of this some of us are more hesitant when it comes to making big decisions such as adopting a pet some young adults volunteer to foster an animal before adoption especially if they provide volunteer work to a shelter or rescue organization many young adults or college students who graciously provide their volunteer services do go on and adopt the animal they are providing fostering services for i believe this could allow the foster parent time to bond with the pet before making a lifetime commitment explains crist of course there are also people who foster animals without the intention of adopting if the relationship does not work out for a permanent home then the pet was housed for some time period and had human contact until new owners could be found pet fostering does allow some young people to enjoy the company of a pet but yet not have a lifetime commitment if they help find a permanent home for the foster pet said crist the process leading up to fostering a pet usually consist of filling out an application and maybe attending a short orientation session most shelters provide the food crate and everything else to meet the specific needs of your animal some pets that need to be fostered also have special needs due to them being young old or sick older pets come with an established character whereas usually young pets are developing their character older pets may have been abused in a previous environment and need extra time and care to get acquainted with the foster parent and foster household it is helpful to know the history of the foster pet if possible to provide the best care possible explains crist when introducing a new pet into your home there are some things to always consider some animals are timid or anxious before they become fully adjusted which can concern some new parents if they are unsure of this being a permanent personality trauma or problem if the foster pet has not responded to the new foster home or parent within a timely period and is displaying unusual behavior or unacceptable behavior then the foster pet needs to have a complete physical examination by their veterinarian the foster pet may need to be referred to a board certified animal behaviorist for further treatment occasionally the pet may need medications for their behavior which can be prescribed by the animal behaviorist said crist the foster parent needs to decide if the foster pet is going to coincide with the existing household pet or will they be kept separate until the foster pet gets a permanent home some things to consider is if the foster pet is young or old and will it get along with the household pet also does the household pet have a dominant or passive character and will it get along with the foster pet introductions need to be made slowly over a period of days to weeks the trick with kitty harmony is to introduce the felines slowly said crist take your new foster cat to your veterinarian for a complete physical examination for a healthy pet check have a prepared room with food water bowls a bed and a litter box which will be your new cats home until the two cats get used to each other do not put the food so close to the door in the beginning that the cats are too upset at each others presence to eat gradually move the food dishes to feed your resident kitty and your new cat on each side of the door to this room and this will encourage them to get used to each others smells and eat calmly once this is accomplished prop the door open enough just to allow the cats to see each other and repeat the whole procedure it is good to switch out the sleeping bed or blankets between to have them get comfortable with each others scent when the new cat is using the litter box and eating regularly it is also good to let your new cat have some free time in the house while the resident cat is confined to the new cats room this switch allows each to cat to experience each others scents and the new kitty to become familiar with its new house without being frightened it is better to introduce your pets to each other gradually so that neither pet becomes frightened or aggressive do not force the cats to be together and do not allow interactions that fearful or aggressive because if this is allowed it can become habit and it is difficult to change eventually you can encourage them to play with a cat fishing pole or cat toys on a string remember a litter box for each cat plus one crist adds introducing a cat to a dog can be quite tricky as well some dogs have such high prey drive that they should never be left alone with a cat usually dogs want to chase and play with cats and they become defensive afraid and sometimes injured or worse using the separate room technique as described above helps the introduction of a foster pet to a resident pet once the new cat and dog have explored each others scents and are comfortable eating on each side of the door a controlled face to face meeting is allowed the dog is placed on a leash on a down stay on one side of the room and a person on the opposite side of the room will sit quietly next to the cat and offer food or catnip to keep the cat around them without physically restraining the cat repeat this with lots of short visits rather than long visits until the dog and cat are tolerating each others presence without fear or undesirable behavior the next step is to allow the cat to investigate the dog with the dog on a leash on a down stay and praising good behavior it is best to keep the dog on a leash and with you whenever the cat is free in the house during the introduction phase allow the cat an escape route and hiding place and always keep the dog and cat separated when you are not present until you are quite certain that your cat will be safe be mindful that kittens are much smaller and can be easily injured or killed by a young energetic dog said crist or high prey drive dog as well as our senior cats sometimes it is best to allow the kitten to become fully grown at the end of the day we want always do what is best for the animal fostering an animal can help people decide if they have the time energy or accommodations needed for a pet the only negative would be if the young adult or college student over commits themselves explains crist sometimes the foster parent gets emotionally attached to the foster pet and it can be hard knowing they have to give up the pet at the end for most the foster parent is eager to find a great family who can make a lifelong commitment to the pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

toxoplasmosis and pregnancy may 14 2010 toxoplasmosis is a common parasite in cats cat lovers who are considering pregnancy are often warned by others to get rid of their cat before they get pregnant in order to avoid getting toxoplasmosis which is carried by cats in most cases this is simply unnecessary it is much harder to become infected with toxoplasmosis than you may think toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the parasite toxoplasmosis gondii said dr sally purcell feline internal medicine resident at texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasite infections and rarely causes significant disease in cats or other warm-blooded species both indoor and outdoor cats can be carriers but it is less likely that an indoor cat will be a carrier if your cat is a carrier of the toxoplasmosis parasite you will most likely never know the cat may get sick but in most cases the parasite will be carried in the muscle or brain without negatively affecting the animal since the parasite is carried inside a cat owning an infected cat will not cause direct infection to humans cats definitely play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis they become infected with the parasite by eating infected rodents birds or anything contaminated with feces from another cat that is releasing the parasite said purcell after a cat is infected it can release the parasite in its feces for up to two weeks the parasite can live in the environment for several months and contaminate soil water fruits vegetables sandboxes litter boxes or anywhere an infected cat may have defecated people become infected with toxoplasmosis by eating food drinking water or accidentally swallowing soil that has been contaminated with infected cat feces eating raw or undercooked meat that has been infected with toxoplasmosis is another way to become infected all meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees fahrenheit if a pregnant mother becomes infected with toxoplasmosis her unborn child will also be infected it is advised by veterinarians to not clean out your cats litter box while pregnant since you cannot know for sure if your cat is infected those with weakened immune systems should be particularly careful; toxoplasmosis will cause severe illness to a person with a weak immune system most of the people infected with toxoplasmosis are unaware of its presence in their body said purcell when the illness occurs it is usually mild some people may experience flu-like symptoms with swollen lymph nodes or muscle aches and pains that last for several weeks or longer some people like cats show no symptoms toxoplasmosis can severely affect an unborn child so expecting mothers should be particularly cautious when around strange cats if a pregnant mother becomes infected with the parasite for the first time right before or during pregnancy the infection can be passed to the child most infants who are infected while in the womb show no symptoms at birth but may develop severe symptoms such as blindness or mental retardation later in life a small percentage of infected newborns have brain or eye damage at birth an important thing to note is if a woman has been infected prior to conception the infant will be protected because the mother is immune some experts may suggest waiting for six months after a recent infection to become pregnant if a woman is already pregnant she should avoid stray cats especially kittens cover outside sandboxes do not get a new cat while pregnant and change (or have someone else change) your cats litter box daily because the parasite will not become infectious until one to five days after it is discarded in the feces pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

are people hazards to pets may 14 2010 dogs cats and other pets are a special blessing to the lives of humans pets are sometimes provided to the sick and dying to provide comfort and trained to assist the elderly and disabled in their daily activities pets clearly fill the role for companionship and positive emotions in humans they also provide an opportunity to teach children about responsibility and give people an excuse to exercise by walking their dog or playing with their cat scientific evidence shows that petting an animal will lower your blood pressure and calm your body however at least some people perceive pets as a potential household hazard with that in mind it is important to remember that less than one percent of emergency room injuries are associated with pets we see a great number of cases where a cat dog or ferret has been accidentally injured by their owner we see dogs all the time that have broken bones from the owners accidentally stepping or sitting on them and injured paws from paws or legs being caught in doors said dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor and director of general surgery services for the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences sometimes the pet has curled up in a recliner to sleep and been smashed when the chair decided to close or a cat or ferret has gone to sleep in the laundry hamper and gets thrown into the washing machine or dryer animals have eaten prescription medication cats crawling up in the engine of the car; the list goes on and on there are several things that pet owners need to know in order to ensure that the least amount of harm comes to their pet or themselves be aware of the pets environment by knowing where your pet likes to sleep or linger it may help to keep your pet out of harms way if they have a specific place designated for them to sleep if you have a small dog pick it up out of the way to avoid tripping or stepping on it a dogs desire to run and jump obnoxiously can be cured through obedience training every dog needs obedience training said stickney they need to know the basic commands; sit stay come lie down it helps the pet and also saves the owners from embarrassing situations when hosting visitors in the home if you are outside with your dog always have a leash to keep them under control even if they are well trained to go without one household items such as antifreeze rat bait and chocolate are fatal to dogs and cats if ingested obesity caused by accidentally overfeeding your pet is also a hazard to their health and livelihood a good way to make sure that your dog is not is not overweight is to look at them from the top their body should look like an oblong hourglass with a broader chest a thinner waist and broader hips two straight lines is too much weight! you should be able to feel but not see your dogs ribs added stickney dog parks are a great place to take your pet they are away from traffic and are made especially for the safety of dogs at a dog park your pet is safe to run and play as much as they want without running into furniture falling down the stairs or being stepped on by people pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

methicillin resistant staphylococci may 10 2010 it seemed like a miracle! when the first human infection was cured by penicillin doctors and veterinarians thought they would never again lose a patient to a bacterial disease but this optimism was short-lived as various organisms found ways to thrive despite antibiotic therapy and became resistant to these wonder drugs in 1961 a staphylocccus aureus strain from a patient in england was found to be resistant to methicillin; medical professionals were alarmed as this drug had always overcome this species in the past within twenty years similar resistant strains appeared in the united states and the battle against the methicillin resistant staph (mrs) had begun during the year 2005 in the united states 19 000 people died of infection with methicillin resistant staph aureus while 16 000 died of aids noted dr audrey cook clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences and over 30 percent of staph aureus isolates cultured from infected human patients were methicillin resistant an infection with mrs usually occurs when there is a breach in the bodys natural defenses such as a surgical wound skin break or iv catheter said cook the consequences of mrs depend on which part of the body is infected if the organism gets into the surgical site on a knee well see a bone infection if it gets into the blood stream we see an infection of the heart valves if it gets into the lung well see pneumonia so how do these infections occur in order to answer this question we need to understand a little bit about the biology of staphyloccocci these are very common bacteria and numerous species and strains have been identified staph aureus is commonly found on healthy people and animals while other staph species such as staph pseudintermedius are more often found on our pets both species of bacteria can be either sensitive or resistant to methicillin the methicillin resistant types are only a problem if they get into the tissues or organs; they are harmless when sitting on intact skin mrs are carried by a small percentage of healthy people and animals said cook these individuals are ‘colonized which means that the bacteria dont just sit on the skin but actually make colonies and reproduce the most common place for colonization to occur is the front part of the nose just inside the nostrils as the bacteria can multiply rapidly very large numbers of organisms can be present from the nose the organism can move around and contaminate the environment infections occur if the organism gets into a vulnerable individual and causes disease so the bacteria can move from people to people people to animals and animals to animals it is important to understand that a healthy person who is exposed to mrs has essentially no risk of infection but may be contaminated and spread the bacteria or become transiently or permanently colonized mrs can survive for long periods in the environment and on clothes and equipment fortunately simple steps can limit contamination and minimize the risk of actual infection frequent hand-washing is one of the best defenses along with maintaining a clean dust-free environment we dont know which people or animals may be colonized or contaminated with mrs said cook but if we pay attention to our own hygiene and keep our environments clean we can minimize the risks at present we still have a few antibiotics which can overcome mrs said cook but we cant take these for granted its important for those of us who treat patients to be vigilant and aware of how the bacteria are spread we need to make sure that pet owners understand that these infections can be serious and to follow through with treatments and rechecks as instructed the bottom line is be aware! mrs are bacteria that move freely from species to species and we place ourselves each other and our patients at risk if we are casual about these organisms pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

equine first aid and emergencies may 3 2010 although it is the most basic form of health care horse owners should be aware that horses need first aid care just as much as people do if not more there are many situations that a horse owner might run into such as soft tissue injuries like lacerations and puncture wounds ophthalmic injuries strains sprains other acute lameness issues colic fever depression and dystocia or foaling difficulties horse owners should be able to have the basic skills required to take care of a horse during an emergency situation until a veterinarian is available such as dialing the phone to seek professional help when needed probably the minimum competency skill level is comfort with applying a bandage in case of a hemorrhaging lower extremity said dr glennon mays clinical associate professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences or understanding how to encourage a painful recumbent horse to stop rolling and get up off the ground and walk around in a circle while waiting for the veterinarians arrival in the case of colic cooperativeness on the part of the animal to accomplish routine acts can actually be practiced under non-emergency situations in order to succeed in time of crisis this cooperativeness is remindful of school children practicing a fire drill said mays if something is familiar it is more easily performed in a crisis situation if a horse is accustomed to having bandages applied to legs or being loaded in a trailer for no obvious reason then it wont seem quite so unusual a request during times of stress or pain in case of emergency there are a few things that horse owners should have on-hand; especially emergency phone numbers that are readily accessible in a tense moment the pre-determined numbers can be dialed in order of preference in case the first choice is unavailable secondary or tertiary selections have already been made said mays i also suggest having some bandage materials on hand beyond basic leg wrapping techniques other first aid supplies can vary according to the qualifications of the owner of the horse and the client-patient relationship with the veterinarian of course there will be times when it is absolutely necessary that the horse owner calls a veterinarian for assistance a professional caregiver should be summoned when the horses caretaker feels uncomfortable or inadequate providing the type of care that is necessary or whenever an animal insurance company is involved often professional care is provided more quickly when the patient is transported rather than waiting for a busy veterinarian to break away from a practice or hospital environment however many vets solely provide ambulatory service and dont operate from a clinic or hospital facility said mays some patients requiring emergency care cannot initially be transported depending on the experience level of the owner and ones ability to accurately interpret the situation of the animal in danger another factor to consider is the comparison of the facility where the horse located and the facility a veterinarian may provide general anesthesia may be avoided by transporting a young horse with a laceration to a veterinarians facility for example when the owners facility is not equipped with an area for safe restraint safety for the animal as well as the people providing the care of the animal is of highest importance there are several emergencies that tend to happen frequently to horses one of the most common involves soft tissue injuries since horses are flight rather than fight responders punctured lacerated or avulsed soft tissues are ordinary reasons for seeking emergency assistance another common emergency need is in response to engorgement due to inadvertent duplication at feeding time or inconsistency in feeding time introduction of new feed hay or grazing sources can create a need for emergency help at times said mays because horses are naturally inquisitive eye injuries are another common need for immediate assistance tearing excessively squinting the eyelids unnatural desire to stay inside a shaded area when pasture mates are out grazing are all indications of a possible eye problem when owners are examining their horse its often a good practice to take a look at both sides of the animal no matter how normal one side appears the inquisitive nature of horses can also create other emergency care opportunities horses become entrapped in cattle guards tree forks narrow chute spaces and even empty trailers where the wind has assisted in closing the gates of the trailer from a veterinarians point of view its very frustrating to be invited to attend an animal situation that has already progressed several days because the owners decision to provide therapy has proven a mistake said mays please dont wait too long and always listen to your conscience about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

proper dental care for pets april 23 2010 an ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure but when it comes to your pets health practicing good dental care may make a significant difference in fact an animals teeth may be more important to its overall health than most pet owners realize says dr jr bert dodd a board certified veterinary dentist at texas a&m universitys college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences human dentists have done a really good job of educating people on practicing good preventive dental health but often we dont think about preventive dental health for our pets said dodd overall dental health can be an indicator of current or future health challenges for humans and pets as goes the mouth so goes the health so taking care of your pets mouth and keeping it nice and healthy should help the animal live longer said dodd preventive dental care includes regularly brushing your pets teeth and getting an oral evaluation and dental cleaning at least annually by your veterinarian some pet owners may question the importance of dental health maintenance for pets based on their own experience with childhood pets but veterinary medicine has come a long way over the past 20 years it used to be that most of our pets died at younger ages so periodontal disease did not have a chance to impact their health and cause damage to their kidneys livers or other vital organs noted dodd veterinary medicine has advanced such that we are now better able to treat these diseases and our animals are living longer healthier lives dental therapy for pets includes many of the same procedures that help humans maintain healthy teeth gums and mouths available treatments include oral surgery periodontics endodontics restorations and even orthodontics on animal patients as needed some of these procedures may be offered by your family veterinarian or you may be referred to a board certified veterinary dentist it is highly important that pet owners become aware of the serious consequences of ignoring their pets dental care periodontal disease is a disease of neglect if preventative dental health is not practiced and periodontal therapy such as root canals and tooth extractions is ignored other health complications may follow said dodd teeth gum or mouth problems can cause infections and disease or they can be symptoms of serious illness in veterinary patients the teeth are 42 little patients in a dogs mouth so they need to be well taken care of and treated with respect added dodd more and more pet owners are recognizing the connection between healthy teeth and their animals overall wellbeing when you make a dental appointment for yourself it might also be a good idea to make a veterinary appointment to have your dog or cats teeth cleaned and checked pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

proper care of stray animals april 16 2010 strayed or lost … what to do when you find a stray animal wandering what steps should you take to help reunite them with their owner and keep yourself safe one should be careful when approaching a stray animal says dr ma crist a clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences if the animal is injured or scared it may inflict bite wounds or scratches to the person approaching or trying to handle the stray animal explains crist because the animal has an unknown vaccination history we do not know if this animal has been vaccinated for rabies therefore it is recommended that experienced personnel handle stray animals some rescue groups animal shelters and city animal control have knowledgeable personnel who are experienced in rescuing stray animals notes dr crist they can provide veterinary care for the sick or injured and also check if the pet is microchipped or has any other form of identification that may reconnect it with the original owner teach your children or young adults not to walk up to any animal that does not have an owner attached to it even if there is an owner present they should ask if they can approach the pet because it may not be friendly if they are allowed to approach the pet sometimes it is best to come from the side of the pet and try to avoid a frontal approach crist also suggests that one should be mindful of bringing a stray animal into a confined area such as your car the stray may become frightened and become a fear biter that causes harm to the person she recommends that if one does obtain a stray and needs to transport the animal it is best to place it into a pet carrier for transportation bringing a stray animal into your own home may be concerning notes crist the pet has an unknown vaccine history again the animal may become fearful and cause harm to people or other pets in the household the stray pet should be kept away from your personal animals because one does not know if this animal may be carrying other diseases and expose your pets to these diseases if you decide you want to keep a stray animal crist recommends having the animal examined by a veterinarian who can check for a microchip or other form of identification to determine an owner the veterinarian can advise on what the stray would need to have the best medical treatment and how to care for the pet good enclosures help to keep pets from escaping and getting lost explains crist but if they escape identifying mechanisms are helpful i would strongly encourage pet owners to microchip or permanently identify their pet it is recommended if a microchip is used to supply an additional contact name of a person not in your state we learned this when hurricane katrina came to louisiana and people were displaced lots of pets had contact names of people identified but these people were displaced as well the animal with a microchip that had an out-of-state contact gave us a person who helped to identify the pet owner crist notes that having pets spayed or neutered will certainly help with population control of unwanted animals it will also help control the unwanted pregnancies of the animals that might escape and become lost the best way to help a stray animal… what to do stay safe with safety first seek knowledgeable and equipped personnel and try to identify the pets owner pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

veterinary technicians help pets stay healthy april 9 2010 as pets become more of an integral part of the family the demand for skilled veterinary technicians continues to rise veterinary technicians play an integral role in your pets health if youre a self-motivated personable individual who likes working with animals and people you may want to consider a career as a veterinary technician a veterinary technician is the equivalent of a nurse in the human health field only they work with animals says mary sanders a registered veterinary technician in the college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences at texas a&m university veterinary technicians typically assist the veterinarian with exams administering medications bandaging laboratory work and assisting in surgery and post op recovery sanders says in some private veterinary practices the technician may also be running the front desk and cleaning out the cages in the back in addition to working in private clinics and animal hospitals veterinary technicians also may work in research facilities pharmaceutical sales federal and state government agencies wildlife medicine zoos livestock management boarding kennels animal shelters stables grooming shops and more persons interested in a veterinary technician career should have a solid background in math and science be personable and possess good communication skills says sanders because technicians at times deal with pet owners who are under duress it is helpful to know how to explain what is happening to their pet in a compassionate manner other beneficial qualities would include the ability to think on your feet and good organizational skills the american veterinary medical association (avma) accredits veterinary technician programs throughout the united states notes sanders most avma-accredited programs lead to an associates degree after two years but some lead to a four-year baccalaureate degree graduation from an avma-accredited veterinary technology program allows students to take the credentialing exam in texas as well as many other states in the country explains sanders candidates are tested for competency through an examination which includes oral written and practical portions to maintain their certification status in texas technicians are required to have a certain number of continuing education units (ceu) each year pet owners today are more willing to pay for advanced care because pets are considered a family member in many households spurring employment growth for skilled veterinary technicians in the old days your family was no more than two miles away from you in any direction now you may not even see your parents once a year or longer because of the distance that people live apart sanders says we live in such a transitional society and people need the comfort of coming home to something in many cases that is a pet also people are staying single longer and they want the companionship veterinary technicians earn salaries that compare favorably to those in other fields requiring a similar education salaries vary according to experience responsibility geographic location and employment type in may 2008 median yearly earnings of veterinary technicians were $28 800 veterinary technology offers a fast growing and challenging career for mature and motivated individuals sanders says that if you are a self-starter who likes to work with people and animals a career as a veterinary technician may be the perfect career choice the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences has partnered up with blinn college in bryan texas to offer a vet-tech program the first set of classes is scheduled to start in the fall of 2010 for more information on this unique program contact (979) 209-7203 about pet talkpet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

when the snakes come marching in april 2 2010 winter is gone spring is finally here and most of us cannot wait to get outdoors and explore what nature has to offer! springtime weather in texas is perfect for hiking trail riding water skiing fishing and floating the river during these activities we need to be especially careful about the snakes that have been hiding away all winter long because they also want to come out for some fun in the sun! once the days get up to the high 70s to low 80s the snakes that winter in more shallow quarters will start moving said teresa shisk-saling rvt veterinary technician at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences this includes king snakes rat snakes milk snakes among others the snakes that hibernate deeper down in burrows pits and dens will start moving after the ground around them warms up; this group most notably includes the rattlesnake the first thing they start looking for is food and water once they shed their skin they will be looking for a mate if you are hiking or camping be careful where you sit if you want to sit down on a downed tree or old log check it out first be careful of even stepping over a downed tree or old log because there might be a snake on the other side; snakes like to hang out in places they can hide typically if you find a snake in a tree it is non-venomous although be careful of low-lying branches of trees near the water because water moccasins like to hang around those areas watch out when you are moving rocks or rock climbing of where you put your fingers if you are clearing up an area or clearing up trash snakes like to hide under sheet metal (tin) or old boards and siding said shisk-saling if you do come across a snake in the woods fields rivers lakes or rocks you can admire it and even take its picture but leave it alone! rat snakes hognose snakes and king snakes are beautiful to look at but you are doing more harm to them than good by deciding to take them home with you this time of year (in texas) the king snakes milk snakes rat snakes hognose and garter snakes are all moving around (these are non-venomous snakes) said shisk-saling however copperheads and water moccasin will be out soon if you are boating or fishing and see a snakes entire body swimming on top of the water; that is a water moccasin non-venomous snakes will swim in the water the great state of texas is home to 37 different species of snakes and surprisingly only four of those are venomous the texas rat snake is the most commonly seen snake in the state despite the fact that snakes are not everyones favorite wildlife species they do serve a purpose in places where people have killed off all the non-venomous snakes then the venomous snakes will move in if you then kill off the venomous snakes the reason they were around becomes apparent usually rodents will be everywhere since you have killed off their predator if you have problems with snakes they are usually looking for water or food said shisk-saling clean up any wood piles trash building material or anything that rodents might find usable for housing it is helpful if you create water-stations in certain areas away from you but where the snakes can reach them just use shallow pans or even litter boxes kept full of water to keep the snakes happy and away from potential damage pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

easter pets march 26 2010 baby animals are a symbol of spring and renewal every year feed and pet stores sell chicks and bunnies to parents as easter presents for their children while these pets are adorable they are animals and must be taken care of for the rest of their lives an impulse pet is always a bad purchase warns dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences they may look cute in the store but easter is gone in a day and then you have a pet to take care of long term stickney also explains that while baby chicks are very cute full-grown chickens might not be the best pets especially not for children its hard to interact with a chicken and roosters can be very aggressive they also get barbs on their feet that can cause a lot of damage notes stickney if you have put some time and consideration into buying a pet for your child a rabbit can be a good first pet as they are docile and are pretty easy to take care of in general the good news is that you do not have to walk or train a rabbit states stickney they will need to get some exercise so you have to let them hop around each day the down side to pet rabbits is that they are pretty messy while it is possible to litter train some rabbits for the most part they go to the bathroom wherever they are because of this they will need to be in a hutch of some sort most of the time make sure that if you do have a rabbit as a pet that you dont keep it in a wire cage it sounds gross but at night they secrete vitamins in their feces and they have to be able to eat these secretions to stay healthy says stickney although rabbits are easy to care for there are still things you have to do to keep them healthy and comfortable be sure to keep their hutch in a place with a comfortable temperature at all times and keep their dietary and veterinary requirements in mind a rabbits diet consists primary of coastal hay and vegetables and 1/3 of their diet should include rabbit feed explains stickney the hay is very important because it prevents digestive problems that rabbits get as a result of cleaning themselves like cats do hay is also important for rabbits teeth if they dont chew on hay constantly their teeth can overgrow if your rabbits teeth do overgrow it will have to be sedated and its teeth will have to be filed down by a veterinarian warns stickney its also important to remember that rabbits will chew on just about anything so watch out for things like power cords because they can electrocute themselves rabbits also have routine veterinary needs just like any other pet they will need to be spayed or neutered and can also get fleas you really need to get your rabbit spayed or neutered before sexual maturity or they can become aggressive advises stickney check with your veterinarian because not all of them spay and neuter rabbits you should also ask them for any flea preventative or treatment as over-the-counter products for dogs and cats can be toxic for rabbits while any pet can be a wonderful addition to a family it is never a good idea to buy an easter pet on a whim if you are ready to make the commitment and think your child is too then a rabbit can be a fun furry companion just remember they do live seven to 11 years on average so you may have the rabbit even after your little one leaves the nest pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

separation anxiety march 12 2010 nearly all pet owners consider their animals an integral part of the family and treat them as such most pets do not make a fuss when you leave the house although they are always happy to see you return others have a disorder that is called ‘separation anxiety where the pets owner must be in sight at all times otherwise the animal will go crazy many dogs that have separation anxiety have a hyper-attachment to the owner; are excessively attentive to the owner and follow him or her everywhere they always want to be held touched or cling to the owner and sometimes even become anorexic when the owner is not present occasionally this behavior problem is seen in puppies and adult dogs from rescue groups or shelters or adult dogs that have to suddenly deal with schedule changes in which they are spending numerous hours alone when in the past the owner was always with them said dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences separation anxiety is usually about two things separation and anxiety or fear symptoms of separation anxiety in pets can include destructive behavior directed towards personal items like clothing remote controls bedding doorways and windows in an effort to escape from crates or confined rooms persistent barking howling and eliminations with urine and fecal accidents in multiple areas may all be signs of anxiety from being left alone if you notice hypersalivation with possible puddles of thick saliva in the crate or near a doorway or window it may be caused from your pet scratching in order to attempt escape these symptoms occur when the pet is alone or believes it is alone treatment of separation anxiety in pets will usually involve people interaction the dogs environment and sometimes anti-anxiety medication some common management steps can also include increasing your pets level of independence it is recommended to not reward anxiety attention seeking from dogs as a level of comfort providing attention during these situations will enable your dog and reinforce the unwanted behavior positive attention that is initiated by the owner and scheduled training can be helpful said crist keep your arrivals and departures to a minimum and non-eventful it is recommended to perform all departure activities 30 minutes prior to leaving such as feeding walking and eliminating do not leave in a hurry because the dog will pick up on this and can be nervous when the owner leaves the home evaluate some of the departure activities the owner performs such as getting the car keys picking up a wallet or purse or getting the cell phone any of these can be predictors that the owner is going to depart and make the dog anxious one can try to desensitize the dog to some of the departure of the activities by performing them at times when the owner is not leaving teach the pet to be left alone by providing dog bed areas in different rooms for the dog to lie down practice with the pet having them lie in these areas for longer periods of time each time and then begin leaving the home and increasing the length of time periods certain methods of distraction can also work well to keep your pet occupied while you leave the premises these methods include the owner leaving a treat that will take the dog a long time to consume or leaving the television or music on in the house dogs may be kept in a crate which sometimes can increase or decrease the anxiety level and may also protect the home from damage made by the unwanted behavior of the pet you may also use a synthetic dog appeasing pheromone (dap) throughout the household where the pet is located the pheromone may provide some degree of calming in dogs that experience separation anxiety sometimes dogs suffer from separation anxiety to a point where they need to be prescribed medication from a veterinarian or a veterinary behavior specialist said crist it is recommended that the medication and a behavior modification program go hand in hand and that the medication does not replace the modification plan the two veterinary approved medications for separation anxiety in dogs are clomicalm (generic name clomipramine) and reconcile (generic name fluoxetine) pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

blood banks are not just for humans march 5 2010 it seems that blood drives are going on everywhere all the time as a society we are aware that blood shortages are common at hospitals around the country and that it is imperative that blood is available for those who are injured or have to undergo surgery what we may not think of is that blood is also critical when treating our family pets texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences is more than aware of this need in fact they have a blood bank that maintains an on-call list of available animal blood donors for fresh draw components such as platelets and also purchases and maintains a stock of other frozen/refrigerated components its important to have a supply of different blood components available at all times because we are both a primary emergency facility and a large referral facility explains mary radcliffe blood bank coordinator at texas a&ms small animal clinic icu we see high risk critical cases which often require immediate treatment these types of patients may not even survive a 24-48 hour delay in receiving a particular component volunteer blood donors are crucial to the supply the clinic has on hand privately owned dogs and cats serve as blood donors and a friendly personality is a must my dogs do search and rescue operations and are also blood donors it does require a time commitment because you have to bring them in to the clinic if you are available when there is a need for your dogs donation but it is definitely worth it notes jaime greenway a veterinary technician at texas a&m university small animal clinic it makes me feel good that my dogs are not only helping to find people but are also helping other peoples pets as well both dogs and cats must be between one and six years of age spayed or neutered and in good health cats must weigh at least 12 lbs and dogs must weigh at least 55 lbs before accepting a dog or cat into the program they are blood typed and then if they are suitable they come in to the clinic for a complete physical examination and blood draw to rule out any medical problems states radcliffe they remain in the program for approximately two years and may donate once every three months right now there are 12 dogs and one cat that participate in the program all typing testing and annual physical exams and vaccinations for the donors are done at no charge to the owner between the commercial blood bank supplies which we purchase and our volunteer donors we generally mange to cover our blood needs but holidays are always a particular concern this is due to the increased caseload as so many other facilities are closed remarks radcliffe while the majority of the animal blood bank programs needs are currently being met many of the donors owners are students who graduate and move away with their pets also as pets get older they may have to retire from the program based on age or they may develop medical problems unrelated to being a donor that may force them into early retirement i am always accepting new applications for the program states radcliffe interested people in the bryan/college station area can contact me by email there are a variety of veterinary blood bank programs around the country from universities to private clinics and commercial businesses if you are interested in volunteering your pet for one of these programs contact your veterinarian for more information about what is available in your area about pet talkpet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

dog bites march 1 2010 according to the centers for disease control and prevention 45 million people are bitten by dogs each year while this is an alarming statistic most of these bites are preventable human behavior is a major factor in dog bites explains dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences children are commonly bit by dogs because of their fast uncoordinated and unpredictable movements that can frighten dogs and make them feel threatened because of this children under the age of five may unknowingly antagonize a dog into biting them boys between the ages of five and nine years old are actually the most likely to be bitten by a dog these bites which typically occur on the face head and neck are rarely fatal but they are obviously painful and can lead to infection if not properly cared for and disfigurement in extreme cases says stickney in addition to fear other common causes of dog bites include aggressive play territoriality over food or a special toy or perceived territorial boundary an aggression behavioral problem and pain a wagging tail does not equal a friendly dog warns stickney never approach a dog you do not know and always ask an owners permission to pet their dog when you do approach an unfamiliar dog with the owners permission move slowly and let the dog sniff your hand before touching it you also want to avoid petting the dogs face head and tail never bother an eating or sleeping dog or one that is caring puppies states stickney if you wake a dog abruptly you may scare them and their territoriality over food and babies may also cause them to bite while children are most likely to be bit by a neighbors or a friends dog adults are most likely to be bitten by their own dog although the best way to prevent a dog bite is to alter your own behavior around dogs there some precautions you can take with your own dog dogs that have properly socialized and received obedience training are less likely to bite people or other animals notes stickney also neutered and spayed dogs are less likely to bite if a dog does threaten you by growling remain calm and stand still or slowly back away till it leaves if a dog knocks you down to attack you curl into a ball and protect your face with your arms and fists advises stickney if the dog bites you get treatment at a hospital and make sure the dog is current on its rabies vaccinations while dog bites can be harmful to people they can actually be just as harmful if not more harmful to other pets carefully monitor interactions between new dogs and cats states stickney it is best if animals meet each other on neutral ground not in the area one considers its territory if your pet is bitten by another dog you will want to take the pet to your veterinarian immediately bite wounds in animals are usually worse under the skin then they appear on the surface and commonly become infected warns stickney as when an animal bites a person you will want to ascertain the rabies vaccination status of the biting animal you will also need to know if the bitten animal is current on their rabies vaccinations as well dogs play an integral role in many peoples families they are cute and cuddly and for the most part very sweet however it is important to remember that dogs are animals and will react with animal instincts when threatened or frightened taking these precautions when interacting with a dog or when your animal interacts with a dog will help prevent bites and keep it a positive experience pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

cat scratch disease february 18 2010 today most people own at least one pet whom they consider to be a part of the family we are very attached to our pets and try to provide them with the best nutrition and health care that we can possibly afford as pet owners we must remember that some very damaging illnesses can happen by neglecting simple hygiene rules with our pets or in our homes one of these diseases that typically go unnoticed in human beings is bartonella infection cat scratch disease in human beings is caused by the organism bartonella which is spread from cat to cat by fleas said dr john august professor of feline internal medicine at texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences the bartonella organism infects the red blood cells and the cells lining the blood vessel walls many cats who are exposed to fleas appear to be infected with bartonella organisms without any clinical signs when fleas feed on cats which is called having a ‘blood meal the bartonella organism grows inside the flea said august the flea will eventually pass the blood meal as feces and the ‘flea-dirt contains the bartonella organism if flea-dirt is located on a cats nail and then the cat scratches a person the contamination is transferred within the scratch most people diagnosed with cat scratch disease do not have any clinical signs noted august some may develop illness of a wide variety including fever and lymph node tenderness in the area closest to where the scratch occurred the lymph node soreness and fever may last for several days although some people develop enlarged lymph nodes that can last for weeks or months in a typical case of cat scratch disease a person will visit the doctor after feeling feverish lethargic and having headaches and lymph node tenderness if there is an infection in the scratch it will not be noticed until five to ten days after the scratch occurred said august it is not until seven to ten days after noticing an infected scratch that you will start to experience lymph node discomfort and at that time you may start feeling sick cat scratch disease can occur after the mildest of scratches csd cases are most often seen in children because they tend to play with kittens which are more likely to scratch and have fleas cat scratch disease becomes a serious problem when someone with a poorly functioning immune system is scratched and infected with the bartonella organism said august csd can cause serious problems which affect the brain eyes liver spleen and bones people who have contracted hiv should be cautious around cats of unknown background because cat scratch disease can cause serious disease in those individuals in temperate climates where fleas are common about 25 percent of cats are thought to be infected the best method of prevention is to keep fleas off your cat said august the only way that bartonella organisms can be transferred between cats is through fleas therefore try to use a very good flea control; especially in kittens another way to help keep children from getting the disease is to teach them how to play responsibly with kittens when a child contracts cat scratch disease it can be worrying for a parent who is unfamiliar with the disease symptoms of fever and swollen lymph nodes often cause parents to think that their child has a more serious disease the good news is that people rarely get cat scratch disease more than once many people with cat scratch disease will recover without any help from antibiotics but for others antibiotics shorten the length of the illness those with serious disease such as aids may require intensive treatment said august still the outlook is very good; within the last month there have been advancements with more sensitive and accurate ways of diagnosing cats who might be infected researchers at the college of veterinary medicine at north carolina state university have recently commercialized new types of diagnostic testing to determine if cats and dogs are infected about pet talk pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

pet vaccinations february 4 2010 even though they may be taken for granted pet vaccinations are vital for your pet properly vaccinating your pet is a very important part of pet care because vaccines can potentially help protect your pet against some serious health conditions and diseases vaccines are a suspension of altered microorganisms which will prevent lessen or treat disease without causing the disease ; notes dr mark stickney clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences vaccines are still considered the cornerstone of preventive medicine knowing the different types of vaccinations and how they work can help pet caregivers provide optimum care for their animals there are live killed modified live and recombinant vaccinations ; states stickney by exposing the immune system to bacteria or viruses that are genetically similar to the ones that will cause disease the immune system will develop antibodies that protect the body when it encounters the actual disease-causing organism; some pet vaccines can be purchased over-the-counter and given by non-veterinarians notes stickney however he says that there may be quality control issues with vaccines if you are not familiar with the correct way to store and use them by law certain vaccines like rabies vaccine can only be given by your veterinarian ; states stickney your veterinarian is also the best person to determine which vaccines your pet needs and how frequently they should be administered; stickney says all puppies and kittens should receive the rabies vaccine at three months of age and again at one year of age vaccination schedules vary depending on the area of the country you are in and the prevalence of different diseases in that area; stickney stresses that puppies should be vaccinated for distemper virus adenovirus parvovirus and parainfluenza and kittens should be vaccinated for viral rhinotracheitis calicivirus and panleukopenia other vaccinations may also be recommended depending on the lifestyle of your pet booster shots are necessary in puppies and kittens to overcome maternal immunity; where the antibodies that the puppies and kittens acquired from their mother provide some protection but eventually break down ; explains stickney vaccines are ineffective in the face of maternal immunity and the puppy and kitten series of vaccines is necessary to protect the pet during the time when the maternal immunity disappears booster shots remind the immune system of diseases it is supposed to protect against; stickney notes that the frequency at which adult animals should receive booster vaccines has been a topic of debate among veterinarians for years increasingly we have evidence that most vaccines do not need to be boosted every year and that the risk of an animal catching certain diseases decreases with age your veterinarian will be able to tailor a vaccine protocol to the specific lifestyle of your pet no vaccine is 100% effective ; stickney explains it is possible to overwhelm any vaccine and immune system with exposure to enough disease-causing organisms; additionally he notes that adverse reactions can occur from vaccinations they are most likely to occur the second time an animal receives a vaccine they usually occur within minutes to six hours of vaccination there are two types of reactions commonly seen anaphylactic and delayed hypersensitivity ; explains stickney delayed hypersensitivity reactions are more common and less serious the pet becomes itchy and the face and ears swell these reactions can usually be treated with antihistamines; anaphylactic reactions are less common but serious and life-threatening ; notes stickney the animal rapidly collapses and goes into shock epinephrine and intravenous fluids are necessary to treat the animal; stickney notes that if your pet ever had an allergic reaction to a vaccine it is important to let your veterinarian know even pets that are allergic to a specific vaccine typically have no problems if they are treated with antihistamines before vaccinations remember vaccines are health products that signal protective immune responses in your pet and your veterinarian can best guide you in the use and scheduling of vaccinations for your pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

the joy and trouble of feeding wildlife february 1 2010 i once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment while i was hoeing in a village garden and i felt that i was more distinguished by that circumstance that i should have been by any epaulet i could have worn – henry david thoreau the beauty of nature is awe-inspiring and magical it is no wonder that we try to get as close to it as possible while feeding wildlife can be rewarding there are precautions you should take in order to ensure your safety as well as that of the animals you are feeding you of course dont ever want to feed any kind of a dangerous animal like a bear or a wild hog warns dr alice blue-mclendon clinical associate professor at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences but some animals such as birds and squirrels are perfectly acceptable to feed and can be a great joy to watch its important to note that while feeding some animals is acceptable it should always be from at a distance never feed wild animals out of your hand any animal can mistake your hand for food and you dont want to be accidentally bitten advises blue-mclendon you also dont want an animal to think food is at the end of your fingers because they might think you have food when you dont or that your hand is part of the food because of these potential dangers its best to feed animals out of feeders or to throw it down as you would to birds in ponds there are many specialized feeders such as bird feeders and corn cob stations that can feed the majority of birds and squirrels if you are going to feed any animal it is best that you give them food that is formulated for them or stick with fruits and vegetables states blue-mclendon most feed stores carry special food for ducks birds and other wild animals if you are feeding animals such as peacocks and ducks by throwing food toward them there is a possibility that they may become aggressive if they know you have food if you encounter an aggressive animal you should first try noise-aversion to chase them off if they dont respond then just put the food down and walk away advises blue-mclendon while feeding wildlife from feeders is the best way to protect your body if you are feeding animals outside your home they can still damage your house and landscape you want to be careful when attracting any animals to your house warns blue-mclendon squirrels can chew on houses and deer have been known to get into landscaping and eat valuable plants such as roses and daylilies once these animals come into urban settings and destroy property they are known as nuisance wildlife and can cause hundreds of dollars of damage because this is a problem in many areas there are a variety of companies that deal with the removal of these animals however if you do have a problem the best way to get rid of the animals is to simply remove the food source i would advise that if you live in the city you only feed birds squirrels can still be a problem around bird feeders but they should not draw other wildlife explains blue-mclendon it really depends upon a persons situation though because if you live in the country and you want to attract things like deer you can find landscaping and plants that are deer-resistant another thing to consider when feeding wildlife is that some animals such as raccoons skunks foxes and opossums can carry rabies and other zoonotic diseases that can be spread to domestic pets some zoonotic diseases can cause severe neurological disease for other animals so its important to keep wild animals away from your pets states blue-mclendon they dont even have to bite your pet to infect them for example one intestinal parasite that raccoons carry is a cause of neurological problems in animals watching squirrels climb up trees and beautiful birds flying around your home can be an entertaining and peaceful experience by making sure that you are protecting yourself your property and the animals you can make sure that the experience continues to be a positive one pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

jogging with your dog january 22 2010 jogging with a friend can help keep you motivated and fit so should your jogging buddy be short or tall blonde or red-haired two or four-legged dogs need exercise just like people and jogging is a good way to do this notes j david sessum rvt veterinary technician at the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university dogs enjoy being outdoors and spending time with their caretakers prior to beginning a jogging routine sessum suggests a veterinary check-up to make sure that your dog is in good physical condition and can cope with the physical strain of running additionally certain dog breeds may make better jogging buddies than others larger dogs do well with jogging explains sessum small dogs may have a more difficult time jogging due to their short legs short muzzled dogs should be evaluated to make sure their airway can handle strenuous activity such as jogging sessum recommends that an orthopedic exam be performed before beginning a jogging routine during this exam your veterinarian can evaluate your dogs body condition score weight overall fitness and help you develop a gradual introduction to a jogging routine dogs of different sizes have growth plates that close at different times explains sessum you should consult with your veterinarian for the best time to start strenuous activity with young dogs older dogs need to have a physical exam to make sure they are healthy enough for strenuous activity and dont have any underlying conditions such as heart disease once your pet is given the go ahead to become a jogging buddy there are additional considerations for your pets safety weather conditions food and water consumption as well as obedience skills become important issues if the weather is hot jogging should take place during cooler parts of the day notes sessum most dogs have a thick coat of hair and extreme heat can cause their temperature to elevate quickly body temperature above 105 degrees fahrenheit is dangerous for a dog this is when heatstroke becomes a real possibility sessum says that signs of heat exhaustion include heavy panting (deep breathing) weakness confusion and vomiting or diarrhea as the condition worsens there may be gum paleness shallow breathing and eventually slowed or absent breathing efforts vomiting diarrhea and finally seizures or coma adds sessum food should be avoided before immediate strenuous activity a large meal followed by exercise can lead to gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (gdv) known as bloat which usually requires surgical correction states sessum water can be given at any time as long as the volume is limited to small amounts at each offering heel is a great command so the dog stays next to you while running additionally tripping or pulling the pet will not be a concern notes sessum also consider jogging with your dog when vehicle and pedestrian traffic are minimal sessum notes that it is best to have your dog on a leash when you jog because a leash allows you to control your pet and keep them from hazardous situations a standard collar works well but if your pet pulls against a leash sessum says a harness might be a better option since it allows you to control the pets body not just its head and neck the standard 6-foot leash allows dogs to move freely on a relaxed leash a retractable leash is more difficult to hold while jogging and if the leash is totally released the dog may get into a dangerous situation or you could trip on the excessive leash length notes sessum when running with your canine jogging buddy take into consideration that you are wearing cushioned shoes your dog is not be aware of the type and temperature of surface on which you are running your dogs foot pads should be monitored for excessive wear notes sessum most dogs tolerate pavement and sidewalks well but be cautious in extreme hot or cold conditions follow these simple safety tips so that your canine jogging buddy running by your side experiences an enjoyable activity that keeps both you and your dog fit pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

pet first aid kit and emergency care information january 22 2010 be prepared is good advice especially if there is an emergency to be better prepared in a pet emergency a pet first aid kit is beneficial the biggest advantage for having a pet first aid kit would be so that you can concentrate on what you can do for your pet constructively rather than looking all over the place for something that might ‘work but is less than ideal notes dr james barr clinical assistant professor texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine the preparation of a pet emergency kit will allow you to mentally prepare for a problem says barr a waterproof plastic bin is the perfect container as it will keep the items in it from being ruined so that they will be available in an emergency barr explains that ideally pet first aid kits should be kept at home and in your car then you can help your pets in case they are injured at home or one that might have been injured in the street he notes that one of the most common injuries of pets is being hit by a car there are commercial first aid kits available for pets barr notes and some of the essentials would include: cohesive bandage/ace bandage assortment of bandages burn gel instant cold pack emergency blanket gauze pads roll gauze medical vinyl gloves hydrogen peroxide triple antibiotic packets alcohol wipes antiseptic wipes slip-style leash lubricating jelly safety pins bandage scissors one-inch adhesive tape tongue depressors tweezers/forceps and hand cleaning wipes he suggests that a deluxe pet first aid kit would also include sterile eye/skin wash sterile gauze pads roll conforming gauze 10 ml and 30 ml oral syringes cotton swabs/applicators digital thermometer tick remover and sting relief wipes be sure to include the phone numbers for your local veterinarian and emergency hospital that is open after hours in your area barr says additionally the animal poison control center is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year at (888) 426-4435 first aid is not a substitute for veterinary care barr stresses first aid implies there is at least second aid and the second aid should be your veterinarian depending on the emergency situation a restraint may need to be used when working with an injured pet one must be very careful with injured pets because they are unable to communicate with us and us with them they are often afraid that fear is translated into aggression and pets can injure even the best meaning bystander because they are in pain explains barr he notes that you should not try to restrain the pet at all if possible but in times of respiratory distress (difficulty breathing) it becomes critical that the pet not be stressed holding pets sometimes creates more stress this should be balanced with the recognition that the pet be prevented from harming themselves further a pet with spinal injuries needs to be restrained much the same way that a person should be restrained after what is suspected to be spinal trauma barr states he notes that instead of being on their back it is helpful to have the pet on its side taped to a rigid board so that its head and legs cannot move around in cases of poisoning barr explains that choosing to cause the pet to vomit the offending poison should not be standard procedure to treating poisoning of a cat there are circumstances when this is a bad decision you should always contact your local veterinarian or the pet poison hotline for instructions barr says that if you as a pet caregiver are tempted to dispense human medicines to your cat or dog you need to know that any product containing acetomenophin should never be given to a cat it is poisonous to them most of the over counter pain relievers especially ibuprofen and naproxen should not be used in dogs as they are very irritating to the stomach please call your veterinarian with any medication questions pet medical emergencies can be trying times but with prior preparation and a sufficient pet first aid kit the situation can be less stressful pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

captive bred vs wild caught january 19 2010 mom can i keep it is a question typically heard in reference to some type of wild animal such as a turtle or a lizard especially by a child who is on the lookout for a pet there is often controversy between reptile pet owners over whether people should buy wild caught or captive bred reptiles a wild caught reptile is obtained much less expensively than one that is captive bred but maybe expense should not be the main concern when considering the adoption of a reptilian pet diseases and behavioral problems accompany wild animals and this is something you want to avoid bringing into your home in my opinion people are much better off buying a captive bred reptile said teresa shisk-sailing rvt veterinary technician at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences some of the drawbacks to a wild caught pet include parasites disease (some blatant and some latent) stress and attitude of the captured animal many if not all wild caught animals have both internal and external parasites if not properly treated the animals do poorly in the environment you create for them and will usually die there are a variety of diseases that reptiles can carry and some of these bacteria and viruses are a normal part of living nature once the animals have been stressed with capture overcrowded shipping conditions dehydration relocation a new home and new food can greatly suppress their immune system then the bacteria and viruses can not only infect the host animal but the entire collection of animals being kept treatment for wild caught pet reptiles must include follow-ups to the initial treatment which will break the parasitic cycle; otherwise no progress is being made in the treatment the older the animal is the harder it is on them to be removed from their natural environment and introduced to a small area the food is different and they are not used to having people around handling them all the time all of that can be stressful to the point of death a wild caught animal depending on the species can be a dangerous animal they may take months (if ever) to settle in and relax they may never eat enough or eat at all because they do not always recognize what we feed as food there are a number of things to work with and be aware of when dealing with a wild caught pet said shisk-sailing of course all trade animals at some time started out as a wild caught specimen but unless you know what you are doing and are prepared to deal with all of the animals needs you are better off working with a breeder and captive bred specimen every generation bred in captivity can lose a little more of their wild instinct they are more dependent on us for food and diseases are less apparent as are parasites if given the proper screening and treatment protocols these animals also tend to be healthier and sometimes more docile buyers have a great resource and mentor at their fingertips when working with a breeder the breeder has a vested interest in the animals that they sell and most will help make sure buyers have the correct set-up and answer all of their questions and concerns about the addition of a reptilian pet into the home if you are looking for a particular type of reptile to adopt i would suggest a beginner herp said shisk-sailing animals in the beginner herps category include box turtles which are a good size hardy will eat anything live in a simple habitat and are very personable! types of snakes in this category include the ball python which is typically docile and content to sit in a lap for hours a corn snake is also of good size docile and can be very curious and animated which makes it a good pet for teenagers they are good eaters and can live their whole life in a moderate size tank; prey items are readily available and not terribly expensive beginner herp lizards include the bearded dragon and the leopard gecko the bearded dragon is a great pet that is easy to care for very social and loves to hang out with its owners the bearded dragon does well in a 40 to 55 gallon tank for their lifetime the leopard gecko is hardy and nocturnal so you do not need the special lighting that diurnal lizards must have they are a good size and very colorful as well as living in an easy-set-up habitat pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu print

elderly people and pets december 17 2009 contact can lessen loneliness contact can lessen depression contact can bring a smile and that point of contact can be a pet an elderly person paired with an appropriate pet can be a winning combination humans and animals need love companionship and activity explained ms kit darling ms infection control coordinator at texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences and aggieland pets with a purpose (apwap) volunteer the elderly who are in assisted living and long term care facilities enjoy visits from pets animal assisted therapy organizations such as apwap provide visits it is a very rewarding experience to see a person smile and enjoy time with dexter and daschle my pet dachshunds their presence causes residents to talk about pets they once had one lady gets so excited when dexter visits; she will invite him to sit on grandmas lap notes darling just as elderly in assisted living desire the companionship of animals seniors living independently can benefit from a daily routine that includes a pet darling explained that pets provide companionship decrease loneliness accept you as you are and provide a sense of being needed pets can give the elderly a different outlook because they live in the moment and help seniors do likewise they can bring laughter into ones life and increase socialization when walking the dog you meet other people in the neighborhood and this encourages conversation additionally recent studies have indicated that positive interaction with pets helps seniors overcome depression and lowers blood pressure/cholesterol levels pets keep seniors active both physically and mentally walking the dog or going outside with the dog will increase ones activity notes darling fresh air and sunshine are good for both stroking or brushing the animal is good exercise for the hands and arms pets may motivate the elderly to do activities they might not do otherwise an animal such as a cat or small dog that can set in a persons lap may be better for the elderly explains darling large dogs may be more difficult to control cats require less care than a dog and an adult animal may be easier to manage than a young one food grooming and veterinary expenses are some of the costs associated with having a pet these may be difficult for someone on a limited income notes darling a smaller animal may help to decrease some of these costs another consideration is lifestyle if you are a senior who loves to travel you will need to go to destinations where your pet can go; otherwise board your pet or hire a pet sitter darling says advanced planning is a must animals can carry disease explains darling good hygiene and keeping your animal healthy will minimize the risk of disease transmission the elderly who are frail or have weak immune systems may be more susceptible to disease and should seek their physicians advice darling emphasizes that the decision to be a pet caregiver is a personal one senior citizens must evaluate the advantages and disadvantages a pet will bring to their life and lifestyle only you can decide if you can care for a pet both physically and financially the human-animal bond can be great and pets may be considered a part of the family notes darling as one ages their children grow up their spouse and friends may die and the pet is very important to them you must decide if a pet will enhance your life and is right for your lifestyle people and pets can be a winning combination the right companion animal may help seniors and the elderly lead happier healthier lives pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

cardiac problems in pets december 4 2009 heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide pet owners should also be concerned for the hearts of their beloved animal friends the heart is a complex organ and it is important to be aware of the heart diseases a pet can develop and to know what to look for so that your pet can have the best possible care dogs and cats can be born with cardiac problems or develop them later in life said dr ashley saunders assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences some of the acquired cardiac diseases in animals are similar to cardiac disease in people and include leaky heart valves or a weak heart muscle resulting in heart failure dogs and cats can both develop high blood pressure even if your dog or cat was not born with heart problems it is important to have them checked regularly by a veterinarian for heart disease signs of heart disease in pets can include cough increased breathing rate breathing difficulty fainting or decreased activity level a heart murmur or irregular heart rhythm might be found during an examination diagnostic testing frequently using a combination of xrays heart ultrasound electrocardiogram and blood pressure is required to diagnose the underlying heart disease and select the most appropriate therapy treatment for heart failure includes a combination of medications and lifestyle changes related to diet and activity level some of the heart diseases diagnosed in puppies can be treated with minimally invasive procedures that use small incisions and catheters to fix problems in the heart at texas a&m we can perform minimally invasive procedures to fix specific heart problems; but ultimately the treatment that is used is dependent on the type of cardiac problem your pet has said saunders heartworm disease is a common problem in dogs and cats that is transmitted by mosquitoes said saunders it is one of the only heart related conditions that can be prevented with a monthly pill or topical liquid placed on the neck that absorbs into the skin treatment is possible but is more costly than monthly prevention dogs can be tested for heartworm disease annually specific breeds that are more prone to cardiac problems than others include doberman pinschers boxers cavalier king charles spaniels and maine coon cats if you are the owner of one of these breeds be sure to check them in to your veterinarian for appropriate health screening recommendations heart diseases cannot always be prevented but most can be detected by being aware of what to look for and having your pet regularly evaluated by your veterinarian pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

nutraceuticals november 19 2009 natural nutrients … natural herb … from a natural source … plants is this combination a better alternative than prescription treatments for centuries medications have been derived from plants and many drugs now synthesized originated from plants could unprocessed natural herbs and their nutrients achieve miraculous cures where traditional medicines have failed for pet caregivers nutritional and dietary supplements nutraceuticals can be used to maintain or improve the health and well being of their animal nutraceuticals may add nutrition pets should be getting from their environment but arent getting from their processed food nutraceuticals are dietary supplements from a food source thought to have properties for improving health preventing disease and providing nutritional supplementation explained dr glennon mays clinical associate professor texas a&m large animal clinical sciences department they are substances considered to have nutritional as well as therapeutic value nutraceuticals are thought beneficial for conditions ranging from anti-oxidants hypercholesterolemia cancer arterial health to joint health pet caregivers obviously desire improved health quality for their aging pet they desire to have the young pet population become a healthier aged one noted mays nutraceuticals are commonly used in large animal health care vitamin and mineral supplements for livestock and horses are used in range pasture and equine stable environments probably the most common equine supplementation is directed toward cartilaginous health within the joint other supplements target skin and hair coat quality explained mays the effectiveness of nutraceuticals is sometime scrutinized because of a lack of scientific study or documentation of reported results or improvement in a certain condition or disease process noted mays additionally there is concern that nutraceutical dosage and potency have not been determined since these drugs are not regulated by the food and drug administration to my knowledge there is no regulatory agency charged to determine guidelines for nutraceuticals explained mays this leads to speculations about the purity and consistency of products in this classification consequently dosages havent been formally established for natural remedies and are generally left to judgment or experience animals are potentially allergic to the plant or feed source of the nutraceutical product mays also noted since trial studies are not conducted and dosing is often subjective overdosing or an appropriately dosed product to an animal with hypersensitivity issues is potentially dangerous mays gives examples of glucosamine joint supplement which is an extract of shell fish and st johns wort a plant beneficial or toxic depending on the animals reaction upon ingestion and amount eaten because testing is not done we simply do not know for certain the interaction of nutraceuticals with prescription drugs cautioned mays research for the study of dosing possible side effects toxicity levels interaction with medications or effects on previously existing medical conditions is lacking mays explained that it is possible for any therapeutic device or external/internal application of natural or synthetic potion solution injection pill capsule or liquid to have or create an adverse affect biological systems react differently to foreign substances that are not naturally occurring within that individual system and certainly unexpected and unwanted results associated with untested products are possible determining that a condition exists for which one of the nutraceuticals might address or improve is the challenge stated mays the diagnosis of the condition is often the most difficult area once the problem has a name then a plan of therapy can begin any of the nutraceuticals are potentially dangerous depending on how the patients system responds to the introduction of the product natural nutrients … from natural sources … and still the best way to determine if nutraceuticals are right for your pet is to become informed and talk to your veterinarian about what treatments are available and how they should and should not be used pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

reptilian feeding frenzy november 13 2009 having a reptile as a pet is quite different from owning a dog or a cat since feeding is relatively simple in the canine and feline world after adopting your first snake lizard or other reptilian pet there is typically a controversy over what the correct method of feeding is for the animal many reptilian pet owners want their pet to be able to experience the thrill of the attack with their prey in other words they want their pet to feel like they are a wild animal in their domesticated habitat but sometimes snakes and other reptiles are attacked by the live prey as they fight the predator animal and your pet can become severely wounded or even die there are times when the snake is not in the mood to eat said teresa shisk-saling rvt veterinary technician at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences such times are when a snake is getting ready to shed or in breeding season when they are growing follicles or eggs if the owner leaves the prey item alive and unattended they can literally come back to a dead snake even if the snake does eat it sometimes they can get a bad grab and the dying prey will bite usually multiple times if the wounds from the bites are not treated the snake can develop a systemic infection and die many pet owners also fear that their snakes will not eat prey that is frozen and thawed we have had several snakes come live with us who the previous owner swore the snake would not eat frozen and thawed prey said shisk-saling as long as the item is warmed back to the original body temperature 99 percent of snakes will eat each reptile and amphibian is unique in its nutritional needs so pet owners must be aware of the specific needs that feeding each of these animals has people typically think of turtles as carnivores and will feed them only fish or turtle food what many owners dont realize is that turtles need calcium said shisk-saling be sure to feed your pet turtle lots of leafy vegetables so they are getting the appropriate amount of calcium that they need tortoises are sometimes referred to as ‘horses with a shell and are in need of a low protein diet which consists of grass hay and the ability to graze feeding is generally not a problem when it comes to some lizards although if too many crickets are thrown in the cage with the reptile and it only eats two or three of them the remaining crickets may begin to feed on your lizard! the big thing with both crickets and meal worms is that they must be gut-loaded before they are fed to the predator animal said shisk-saling without gut-loading the insects are just empty calories and you can actually starve your pet while feeding it gut-loading is a very important aspect of feeding when it comes to providing the right nourishment for your predator it involves feeding the prey a good source of calcium vitamin a and protein so that when the reptile eats the prey it is getting the proper nutrition it needs whatever the prey is eating thats what youre feeding your predator said shisk-sailing pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

alternative pet care november 9 2009 many people have biases toward alternative forms of healthcare because there is not much evidence based on research to support it for them more science and clinical data is needed to support acceptance of these therapies others are completely sold on the idea of alternative or ‘holistic medicine because it is known to be a cure for the source of problems and not just a treatment for the symptoms that result from those problems as has been suggested of the role of traditional western medicine alternative medicine for pets is referred to as complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (cavm) and it integrates multiple modalities for veterinary medical therapy such as acupuncture acupressure botanical medicine chiropractic care homeopathy and massage therapy some of the modalities include acupuncture which is one of the oldest forms of traditional chinese medicine and involves the insertion of a tiny needle into the skin to a predetermined area called an acupuncture point to treat or prevent disease said dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences with todays modern medicine we can also stimulate these points with electrical stimulation injections laser ultrasound ultraviolet and magnetic induction acupressure is the use of finger pressure on designated points on the body sometimes a few points are taught to owners to supplement their acupuncture alternative veterinary medicine includes a wide variety of medicinal and herbal treatments other than acupuncture and massage the purpose of these medicines is to attack the ‘root of the problem that the animal is experiencing other methods of alternative medicine include veterinary chiropractic care which is health care for animals involving manual spinal manipulation said crist it is the interaction between the neurological system and the biomechanics of the vertebral column therapy is directed toward prevention and treatment of disease aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from herbal plants for cause and effect of physiological or psychological response veterinary homeopathy is based on the principle ‘like is cured by like founded by samuel hahnemann in the 18th century it is more important to understand that homeopathic remedies are medications and the more diluted the remedy the more potent it becomes veterinary botanical medicine includes the use of herbal medicine to treat or prevent disease this may involve western herbs chinese herbal medicine or herbs from india most alternative medicine treatments are based on clinically accepted medicine however it is difficult to find scientific data to support the theory that these modalities are safe and effective more clinical data is becoming available but it is a very slow process because funding for the research is not readily available owners need to understand that some of these modalities are slow and gentle and take time to take effect said crist others may believe that alternative medicine does not work at all because they might have waited too long in the disease process and despite what therapy is used nothing will work to practice in any of these modalities a veterinarian must be certified and well versed in their area of interest within the scope of alternative pet care it is not just a weekend seminar said crist it includes hundreds of hours of continuing education in that field numerous examinations multiple case reports and hours and hours of shadowing an expert in the field it is important that if an owner requests any of these integrated modalities that they are referred to a veterinarian certified in that field it is also important that if they are referred by their regular veterinarian that the two work together to do the best for your pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-57189 print

hypothyroidism in dogs october 29 2009 hair loss weight gain lethargy and exercise intolerance are symptoms that most pet owners attribute to the onset of old age in their beloved pups but especially if your dog is about four to six years old be aware that these might be symptoms of hypothyroidism hypothyroidism is a canine condition in which the thyroid gland functions insufficiently the thyroid gland is that which controls the metabolic rate of the body almost all primary hypothyroidism in dogs is caused by autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland a lymphocytic thyroiditis which is a genetic disorder said dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences secondary hypothyroidism is caused by impaired thyroid stimulating hormone secretion or a congenital malformation which is usually less than five percent of all cases other causes can be from congenital defects common breeds that are predisposed to canine hypothyroidism are the english setter golden retriever irish setter doberman pinscher dachshund miniature schnauzer boxer and poodle feline hypothyroidism is extremely rare as a spontaneous disease although it may occur as a secondary reaction to hyperthyroidism surgery most dogs are adult middle-aged about four to six years old when clinical signs of hypothyroidism can occur said crist high risk and giant breeds may develop clinical signs at an earlier age skin and haircoat changes are a common finding such as symmetrical truncal or tail head hairloss dull dry hair coat fuzzy haircoat rat tail appearance poor hair growth after clipping thickened skin hyperpigmentation seborrhea and excessively waxy ears cardiovascular irregularities neuromuscular weakness ocular changes and reproductive disorders are less common but can also occur the diagnosis of hypothyroidism should be based on a good physical examination from your veterinarian and diagnostic blood tests thyroid function blood tests that are performed and interpreted by your veterinarian treatment of canine hypothyroidism consists of an oral administration of a thyroid supplement said crist response to therapy is monitored by the resolution of clinical signs and repeating a thyroid function test about once a month after beginning supplementation to monitor dosage most canines are supplemented with this medication life long after beginning therapy and are checked once or twice a year with thyroid function blood tests from their veterinarian the response to therapy with activity attitude and appetite usually occurs within 1-2 weeks and 4-8 weeks for dermatological issues to resolve there is a good deal of difference in hypothyroidism in dogs and hypothyroidism in humans people of any age can acquire hypothyroidism but older adults are more likely especially women over the age of 60 in dogs both males and females are equally affected by hypothyroidism anatomically the thyroid gland in animals is on either side of the trachea and in humans it forms an ‘h because it connects across the trachea noted crist the most common cause is hashimotos thyroiditis in humans in which the bodys immune system attacks the thyroid gland tissue and decreases the production of thyroid hormone leading to similar symptoms of feeling tired having dry skin brittle nails cold intolerant mental dullness and infertility issues diagnosis with thyroid function tests and medication with a thyroid supplement can be a lifelong treatment plan pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

spaying and neutering your pets october 22 2009 if we let one dog and all their offspring breed uncontrolled for six years we would have 78 000 puppies and if we did the same with cats we would have 76 000 kittens born within the same period explains dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences the above statistic emphasizes one important reason to spay and neuter your pets because some pets are not fixed or controlled the humane society of the united states estimates that over three million cats and dogs are euthanized each year because there is nobody to take care of them while the tragedy of having unwanted pets is a compelling reason for spaying and neutering many people would be surprised to know that the procedure can actually be beneficial for the health of their pet and the wellbeing of their family if you are not planning to breed your female pet you should have her spayed prior to her first heat cycle notes stickney this will almost completely eliminate the chance that a dog will get mammary cancer which is the most common cancer in dogs and there is evidence that it might be helpful to reduce incidents of cancer in cats as well neutering male dogs has a similar effect as it can eliminate the chance of testicular cancer and enlarged prostates neutering is an effective treatment of enlarged prostates in older dogs that were not neutered as puppies and spaying an older dog will still eliminate the risk of a uterine infection called a pyometra adds stickney another reason to have your pet spayed and neutered early is that the procedure might be easier on a young pet before six months of age reproductive structures are less developed this means that there is usually less bleeding after surgery and the animal recovers more quickly explains stickney along with the health of the animal the behavior of the animal can also be affected by spaying and neutering spaying and neutering early tends to decrease aggression especially in dogs states stickney it can also make them easier to train because they are not distracted by hormones with that said neutering an older dog may not have the same effect especially if they already have bad habits not only can neutering decrease aggression but it also may save your home from some pretty foul odors neutering dogs and cats can drastically reduce marking behavior explains stickney if youve ever had your animal lift their leg and urinate on your couch you know that that smell is quite unpleasant and almost impossible to get rid of when you do decide to have your pet spayed or neutered there are few things you should know about how to care for them after the procedure most pets are going to quickly return to their usual behavior especially with pain medication says stickney this can actually be a problem because they need to be calm for seven to ten days after the surgery and its hard to keep a puppy that feels good calm because of this you are probably going to want to separate them from other pets they play with and make sure they are not running jumping swimming etc as with any medical procedure there is always a cost associated the cost will depend on the city and the size of your pet but generally ranges anywhere from $100-$300 i know there are people out there that dont spay and neuter their pet because of the cost but if you look at it rationally it is really an investment having your pet spayed or neutered not only helps to reduce the pet population but it can also help to keep your pet healthy states stickney plus if your pet has babies you will have considerably more vet bills than what it would have cost to have your pet fixed and you may even end up with more pets that you didnt want once your kids see the cute little puppies or kittens you may have a hard time convincing them that you cant keep just one adds stickney pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

when does a horse need a farrier october 16 2009 we all know what it feels like to break a fingernail or toenail and it is certainly not comfortable luckily for humans we do not have to walk or stand on that nail after it has been cracked or split horses do not have that same luxury when a horse cracks or splits his nail the results can be especially painful since the horse must continue to stand and walk on the broken nail a horse cannot just clip his own toenail off; that must be done through the services of a professional farrier a farriers job is to provide shoes for horses and to administer care to hoof problems the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences does a great deal of work on lame horses and a big part of treatment for horses hooves often requires therapeutic shoeing and a specialist who knows what to do hoof growth is a constant occurrence though the rate of growth is affected by several variables said jason wilson-maki professional farrier for the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine and graduate of the heartland horseshoeing school weanlings can grow as much as half an inch a month; yearlings grow slightly less a mature horse will grow roughly 38 inches per month an aged horse has a slower rate of about 25 inches a month the seasons also play a factor in hoof growth during the summer when forage is plentiful the growth rate burgeons winter growth rates are usually slower another contributing factor is exercise a fit horse who is worked daily will have a greater growth rate this is most likely due to an increased metabolic rate individual genetic factors should also be considered: some animals just grow more foot extrapolating from these growth rates a schedule of four to eight weeks should be followed for hoof maintenance there are several signs that will inform an owner that a horse needs the ministrations of a farrier the first that comes to mind is excessive length said wilson-maki this is a subjective area and hard to quantify but excessive length will lead to chipping breaking of the horn and stumbling though not a hard and fast rule if the wall extends beyond the solar surface more than a quarter of an inch a trim may well be in order if a horse is shod other indicia will be present if the rear third of the foot has grown to the edge of the shoe or the clenches have become raised the horse should be reshod if a shoe becomes sprung or loosened attention would also be required if lameness arises your first call should be to your veterinarian but a farrier may be able to offer a degree of insight if the problem is hoof related the farrier may be a valuable asset to your vet the most efficient practice for assuring proper hoof care is regularly scheduled hoof maintenance by a skilled farrier this schedule should be dialed in to your horses specific requirements hoof care and farriery is as much an art as a science never say always! said wilson-maki employ a competent and educated farrier who is willing to listen to your concerns and follow a schedule that fits your horses needs perhaps most importantly do not allow a single ideology or belief to cloud your judgment many horses functions well barefoot while others cant limp to the pasture without some form of hoof protection there are many hoof care systems and methods which can be utilized to achieve the goal of a sound functioning horse allow the horse to decide which method works best for him the benefits to clients of the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine have been tremendous ever since they hired full time farrier jason wilson-maki last fall the direct communication between the clinicians and myself benefits the animal by reducing the risk of a miscommunication if i have any technical or application concerns these issues can be discussed said wilson-maki this facilitates an individualized comprehensive treatment for the animal which accomplishes the goals of the attending clinician and stays in step with the fundamental principles of sound farriery the farrier service at the veterinary medical teaching hospital has given the clinicians at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine another tool for helping their patients who need help with their hooves pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

animal abuse october 8 2009 a tragic yet not uncommon occurrence among pet owners is that of animal abuse it is hard for many of us to believe how someone could inflict harm on such loving and devoted creatures but it happens more often than not it is the stray and wandering dogs that have been abused we must be aware of the signs of animal abuse and know how to take the right precautions when welcoming a pet into the family who may have been abused you want to make sure the animal knows it is now in a safe and loving home where it will be cared for properly some warning signs of animal abuse and neglect can lead to behavioral issues of aggression barking destructive behavior disobedient behavior and inappropriate elimination that may have lead to owner punishment said dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at texas a&m college of veterinary medicine conditions that are suggestive of animal abuse are animal welfare issues such as a poor physical state abandonment the collar grown into the neck matted coat ectoparasite infestation and no veterinary care physical injuries such as bruising eye injuries fractures repetitive lesions or injuries internal injuries gunshot wounds drugs poisons and drowning are also evidence of abuse environmental concerns such as the large numbers of animals overcrowding with dead animals present and human welfare issues with the owner not able to afford to feed a pet fighting the animal or a ritualistic sacrifice are other conditions that an animal may be a victim of abuse oftentimes if an animal is shy it is difficult to tell whether or not they have been abused in the past is it shyness or fear caused by the abuse most of the times it is fear triggered from the original abuse said crist correcting this behavior is not always easy but rehabilitation can occur patience and time with the pet will take pressure off the pet and help speed the healing process with a severe fear that was caused by abuse and causes the dog to become injurious to themselves a veterinary behavior specialist is recommended this specialist can prescribe some behavior modification medication to deal with the fear if needed if this fear causes the dog to react aggressively toward people then a behaviorist will be able to address this issue as well if you have adopted a stray who you believe might have been a victim of abuse there are several things you can do to determine whether or not abuse has occurred have your veterinarian perform a thorough examination on the pet interestingly enough not all pets who behave as they have been abused were abused said crist sometimes the public tends to associate a withdrawal behavior to sudden movement as an abused animal and this may not be the case veterinarians have to be sensitive to the possibility that the abused pet could be the victim of owner-induced abuse or neglect we have to regard these concerns for the welfare of the patient but as well as other animals in the household veterinarians also have to be sensitive to the issue that the client might be a victim of an abusive relationship and that providing veterinary and foster care for the pet may provide an escape from the abusive relationship the veterinarian will document all findings on the thorough physical examination the pets mental status and initial behavior are evaluated and monitored said crist most often animals that are depressed initially often exhibit behavior changes as their physical and emotional status improves laboratory tests and whole body radiographs are performed pictures or videos of any wounds traumatic injuries neglect or collars or leashes embedded in the neck are gathered for evidence all of these elements can make a powerful case for animal cruelty abused animals may have problems like food guarding stress around strangers phobias of loud noises or fear of children if they have been abused by them there are several treatment options that can help your pet overcome these fears or at least to make him feel safe and secure whenever these situations occur if your pet has a food guarding issue you might consider not having a buffet of food said crist it might be recommended to keep the pet in another room or place a baby gate to separate the pet with an interactive toy or another canine companion holidays usually bring guests and if your pet gets stressed with strangers it might be beneficial to board your pet if your pet will not tolerate a boarding facility as some abused pets do not do well at these types of facilities ask a family friend that the pet has a good relationship with to babysit phobias of loud noises or thunderstorms are best treated with repeated medications prescribed by an animal behaviorist with short acting anti-anxiety medication do not put a fearful dog in a backyard because it is not protected from other humans or children entering the yard and setting up an unpredictable situation placing a dog in a crate can be stressful and if they are not used to it or it gives them a physical boundary they have to defend it may make matters worse for an abused patient tragically pet abuse happens every single day to sweet and harmless animals so the need to recognize the signs and document animal abuse is important to reduce animal cruelty pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

dont be lame – causes and cures for equine lameness october 1 2009 an athletes body is trained to handle an amazing amount of work and stress from runners to swimmers all athletes train to handle the specific stress their sport requires unfortunately it is still not uncommon for these athletes to injure themselves performing the very actions they trained for this is also true of a horses body many horses are trained athletes that are bred and conditioned for a specific sport such as racing jumping western performance or dressage while these sports are relatively safe just like a human athlete there is always a possibility of injury and in most cases with horses the injury tends to be lameness equine lameness is an abnormality of gait that is caused by pain or restriction of movement most of the injuries we see are muscular/skeletal lamenesses states dr kent carter professor of equine lameness and chief of medicine at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences large animal hospital the lameness can be a result of things such as chipped bones bowed tendons and other soft tissue injuries the type of equine lameness is generally dependent on the horses use for example race horses tend to present injuries such as bowed tendons or bone chips in joints jumpers on the other hand tend to have more soft tissue injuries probably the greatest number of cases we see are soft tissue injuries in the foot and lower limb notes carter foot lamenesses can be caused by traumatic injuries or as a result of a degenerative process of course your horse doesnt have to be an elite athlete to suffer an injury some can happen as the result of accidents such as stepping in a hole or on a rock during a trail ride and twisting an ankle horses can even injure themselves while bucking and playing in a pasture you should be as aware as possible of the terrain on which you are riding and make sure that your horse has the proper conditioning for the activity you are having it perform urges carter with that said even with the best care an animal can always injure itself as a horse owner it is fairly easy to recognize if your horse is lame as most likely there will be some limping if the injury is further up in the leg it is also possible to see swelling of the leg if you notice that your horse is limping or its leg is swollen the first thing you want to do is stop exercising them if you are knowledgeable you can also apply a pressure wrap around the leg advises carter if it is not getting better or if the limp is severe you should take them to their veterinarian as soon as possible depending on the type severity and location of the injury there are many types of treatment that a veterinarian can perform we prefer to start with rest and support wraps but when the injury is more severe we can do anything from pain killers and injections of anti-inflammatory drugs to surgery states carter of course you cant treat a problem until you can diagnose what the problem is and some lamenesses dont present at all or not fully until a rider is on the horse the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine recently added a state of the art lameness arena to our facility notes carter the surface of this arena helps us to better diagnose specific lamenesses by putting a rider on a horse and having them ride once the problem is identified and the veterinarian performs the treatment regimen there is always a chance that the horse will either not heal completely or will require additional rehabilitation while i would say that for the most part we can at least benefit most horses with lameness we cant heal everyone says carter we can however improve the outcome in the majority of cases most horses with lameness problems will probably have to have some form of rehabilitation while most rehab is done at home by owners in more severe cases the horses can be sent to rehabilitation centers rehab centers will have specialized equipment to deal with more difficult cases explains carter this can be anything from 24/7 monitoring to water treadmills with all the options for the treatment of equine lameness the cost of these procedures can range from relatively inexpensive to thousands of dollars its highly dependent on what we do we can give a simple injection of anti-inflammatory for less than $100 while some surgeries can cost over $4 000 states carter in order to avoid expensive procedures and painful injuries the best prevention is to be aware of your horses surroundings and try your best to keep them in good physical condition for their activities of course when injuries do occur its important know how to spot them and what to do in order to keep your four legged athlete in tip top shape pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

should your pet be a vegetarian september 24 2009 there are so many human vegetarians that some of you may have wondered if your beloved four-legged friend is able to share the same passion and cause as you if you have ever been interested in having your pet become a vegetarian it should be helpful to know the certain nutritional needs that your pet has in order to make the right decision regarding vegetarianism there is no scientific basis on the idea that a specific breed of cat or dog would fare better as a vegetarian it is simply an issue between the species in the canine world being a vegetarian has no negative effect on their nutritional needs dogs are opportunistic carnivores said dr john bauer ml professor of clinical nutrition at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences which means they will eat meat when they have the chance or when no other type of food is available for wild dogs prey is not guaranteed so especially in the colder seasons dogs will eat more plants and vegetables as meat is difficult to find as for pet dogs they can easily be converted to vegetarians and if done properly it is just as healthy as an omnivorous diet is for a dog dogs have the same types of protein balances in their bodies that humans have therefore making it easy and safe for them to convert back and forth from a vegetarian diet to one of an omnivore one problem with having your dog become a vegetarian said dr bauer is that it is easier to feed him meat and vegetable based diets without having to worry about protein types there are commercial plant and vegetable based diets around for dogs which seem to work well for the animals health and overall well-being if you happen to be a cat lover you must be aware that feline nutritional needs are entirely different from those of dogs cats are obligate carnivores said bauer it is essential for cats to have animal-based material in their diets for five specific reasons the first reason is because cats have dramatically higher protein requirements than other mammals secondly cats have an absolute requirement for one protein component called taurine (an amino acid) that is present in meat products muscle and skeletal tissue both dog and human bodies are able to produce taurine but cats cannot thirdly cats have a special fatty acid requirement for a specific omega 6″ fat which is not present in vegetables this particular omega 6 fat is only present in high enough concentrations in animal tissues and cannot be manufactured by a felines body reason four is cats cannot make vitamin a from beta-carotene that both dog and human bodies produce from vegetables such as carrots vitamin a is only present in animal tissues the fifth and final reason cats are required to eat meat is because the b vitamin niacin cannot be made from protein precursors and is readily found in meat products the five nutrients mentioned above cannot be manufactured by a cats body the exclusive place to get these nutrients is from animal derived tissues trying to make your pet cat become a vegetarian would be an ill-experiment as you can be sure it is unhealthy there is always the possibility that new vegetable based sources for cats may be discovered said bauer also as we learn more about metabolism in cats it might be possible to make plant and vegetable based diets for them of course it is a very low possibility at this point so it is best to not try out vegetarianism on your own cat as it would be hazardous to their health pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

you your pets and parasites september 17 2009 for many animal caregivers pets are an important part of the household environment as humans and pets co-inhabit your family is more likely to be exposed to internal and external parasites consequently quality family health may be determined by actions taken to maintain your pets well being because our pets live in an environment with many other animals they will be constantly exposed to parasites notes dr thomas craig professor of pathobiology at texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences the local prevalence of parasites depends on the local environment dogs are infected by some parasites while still in the uterus from an activation of larvae in the mothers tissues both cats and dogs also transmit parasites in the milk for some species parasites enter the body by penetrating the skin or when the pet ingests microscopic worm eggs or cysts in the environment cats generally have fewer worms but tend to have several species of worms acquired by eating the prey they catch and devour explains craig in central texas the most common internal parasites of dogs are hookworms and heartworms with a lesser number being infected with roundworms whipworms tapeworms and coccidia dogs may be infected with parasites when bitten by ticks fleas or mosquitoes and additionally by eating ticks fleas bugs or beetles and other animals that have tissue forms of parasites dr craig says that the transmission to cats is by the same means as for dogs but cats spend less time resting on the soil and spend more time eating other creatures in the environment internal parasites are not easy to visually detect in dogs and cats about the only internal parasite the pet owner typically sees are tapeworm segments which resemble a grain of rice in size they are seen in fecal material or moving on the hair dr craig says occasionally a worm will be vomited and the animal may have clinical signs such as coughing white mucous membranes tires easily or a bloody stool all may indicate parasites however other things can cause these same signs so most infections are not obvious to the average person your veterinarian should be able to run fecal and blood samples from your pet to determine if there are internal parasites these should be part of your pets annual checkup external pet pests such as fleas generally are of little significance to human health but infect pets with other parasites such as the bacteria causing cat scratch fever which occurs in humans from a cat bite scratch or contamination of a wound by flea feces the most common tape worm of cats and dogs is acquired by eating fleas and occasionally occurs in young children craig notes that if flea infested pets have been in an environment but no longer are present then fleas will gladly feed on humans as pets get older they become resistant to some types of parasites but not others therefore parasite control will be required throughout the life of the pet continuing prophylactic treatment is especially important with heartworms which can be transmitted by mosquitoes every month of the year depending on the climate humans become infected by parasites of pets by walking barefoot or gardening without gloves in soil where a dog has defecated weeks earlier or by eating eggs or cysts deposited by a cat or dog in the environment for up to two years previously humans also share parasites transmitted by ticks and other invertebrates and these can be transmitted by bites or by eating bugs states craig there are health tips that can help protect family members wear shoes and gloves in the garden clean up the cats litter box daily pick up poop! cook or peel raw vegetables from the garden wash your hands after handling the pet or anything that has been in contact with the pet craig notes that prompt disposal of fecal material and wearing protective clothing is important one hundred years ago hookworm infection was common in the human population but use of toilets and regular wearing of shoes has eliminated the infection screens keep out malarial mosquitoes and the common roundworm and whipworm of humans are largely controlled by toilets and personal hygiene if it worked in humans could it work in pets pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

potty training for pets september 3 2009 bringing home a new pet is an exciting time for a family playing with a sweet little puppy or kitten and watching them explore their new home can be rewarding and fun unfortunately cleaning up messes your pet makes in your home is a part of pet ownership that can quickly become tiresome for this reason it is important to have a potty training plan for your new pets and start them on it as soon as you bring them home its important to start young with potty training because what we dont want to do is establish bad habits in our pets explains dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences once they learn one way to do something its hard for them to unlearn it and any change can confuse them potty training is a significantly different process for cats than for dogs while dogs require a good deal of attention and time to train cats are quite a bit easier litter training is instinctive for cats notes stickney all you really need to do is put your kitten in the room with the litter pan and keep it in there when you are not playing with it or paying attention to it while there are a variety of litter boxes available stickney suggests that you make sure you get one at least initially that your kitten can easily get in and out of you have to remember that when you bring home a kitten it is just a little baby and if you get a really high box it may have trouble getting into the box and therefore will not use it says stickney its also good to remove anything in the room that may resemble litter such as potted plants or they may become your pets bathroom when choosing your litter it is good to know that while there are many different kinds and varieties they are mostly marketed for human preference find one that your cat will use and that works for you although all cat litter brands are ok to use it may helpful if you know what kind of litter your kitten was using before it came to live with you and start with that if possible notes stickney cats can be texture and odor specific with their litter so if you can at least start with that you can gradually transition them to another litter later if you prefer as previously mentioned potty training puppies is a completely different process and quite a bit trickier than training kittens the process is slow and can take up to a year for some dogs to get the hang of it begin training your dog as soon as you bring it home urges stickney take it straight outside and give it plenty of time to go potty stay out there with it but ignore it until it goes then as soon as it goes give it a treat and ‘ooh and ahh all over it while this process may be time consuming it will be worthwhile in the end when you dont have to pick up messes in your house when your pet is inside the house stickney advises that most effective way to train it is by crate training when you are not at home you should keep your pet in a crate inside your house says stickney this becomes their safe place (or their den) and thus crate training takes advantage of their natural instinct not to make a mess in their own den as soon as you get home immediately take your pet out of its kennel and take it outside to go to the bathroom its not realistic to leave a puppy in a carrier for eight hours straight and not have an accident explains stickney if at all possible you should try to come home or arrange for someone to come by and give it a potty break in the middle of the day if you work full-time because the cage is your animals safe place it is important to never use it as a punishment if you put them in it for punishment it will have a negative view of it and will no longer see it as their den this also goes for punishment of accidents never negatively reinforce their behavior warns stickney if you hit them when they have an accident they not only dont connect their accident to the punishment but it can cause anxiety and lead to slower potty training if you have followed all these training guidelines and you are still unsuccessful there are professional dog trainers who can help with the process you may also want to consult your veterinarian to make sure the animal doesnt have an underlying problem if your dog or cat is already housebroken and suddenly starts having accidents this is also a sign that it may have a health problem states stickney in this case you should definitely take the pet to its veterinarian for a check-up while our pets are a great addition to our families and a wonderful source of enjoyment nobody wants to deal with pet messes in the home if you have a potty-training plan in place and are diligent about sticking to it you can have a healthy happy and potty trained pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

doggy day care august 28 2009 owning a pet is oftentimes quite similar to raising children including the need for finding them a place to stay while you are out of the house the majority of pet owners leave their pets at home unattended during long days at the office the downside to this is that dogs especially young ones need just as much exercise attention and love as children do one of the best alternatives to leaving a pet at home is taking them to a doggy day care while you are at work doggy day care is similar to the human day care system the pet owner drops their four-legged family member off in the morning on the way to work and activities will be set by the day care depending on the dogs interest level a doggy day care should provide exercise stimulation socialization and sometimes training to a dog that otherwise would be left at home alone during the day said dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at the texas a&m college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences it can help with that dreaded ‘potty training in young dogs hyperactive dogs have an outlet to release some of that excess energy and overweight canines needing to lose a few pounds can do so by exercising and playing in the play groups during the day doggy day care can greatly assist in the socialization of your pet it may provide them with an opportunity to meet and greet with a variety of other dogs according to the american veterinary society of animal behavior it is important to socialize puppies during the first three months of life enrolling puppies in a pet day care system can be an excellent way of socializing puppies in a safe environment where risk of illness and harm are minimized although pet day care is an excellent way to care for your pet while you are unavailable be aware that it is not the best option for every pet senior pets might be overwhelmed with the number of dogs romping and playing and might get knocked down shy dogs may be fearful and aggressive dogs should not be allowed said crist a well trained staff should be experienced in recognizing signs of disposition and anxiety that may indicate that your pet is not right for the day care setting you need to feel comfortable and happy leaving them at the day care you will know the answer when you pick up your pet at the end of the day if you have made the correct decision other benefits to the doggy day care system include the use of the day care as an adjunct with behavior modifications for treating separation anxiety the day care is a place you can take your pet so he or she will not be left home alone to suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety play areas should provide a supervised clean and relaxed setting for the dogs said crist small dogs should be with small dogs and large dogs with large dogs most play areas are roofed shelters indoor and outdoor fresh water always available imaginative toys with an attentive well trained staff most day cares do require vaccinations and that health records be up to date if the idea of pet day care does not appeal to you an alternative form might be a pet sitter that comes to the house and provides one-on-one attention to the pet a full-time company will provide a dedicated pet sitter to your pet in your private home which will cater to its every need said crist another service provided are dog walkers and dog runners that will come by the private home and take your pet for a walk or run! a second alternative is a privately-owned or in-home dog day care they are often less expensive and have a fewer number of dogs being cared for at any given time for dogs that are less social or shy this might be a better option said crist in-home or private day cares offer your pet a home environment and a closer human-animal bond the only negative might be the number of staff to the number of dogs being cared for at least two or three people for five dogs should be present in case an argument broke out because one person could not handle things if this happened all things considered the best way to fully care for your sweet fluffy friend is to give them the constant love and attention they need just as much as people do limiting the time that you leave your pet feeling neglected and alone will help him to become a better socialized and well-rounded pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

adding a (four-legged) member to the family august 21 2009 babies are wonderful additions to a family that can bring great happiness but also require special attention this of course applies to puppies and kittens as well before bringing these furry bundles of joy home there are a few things you should know and about preparing your home for a new pet the first thing to consider is if there is already another pet in the house explains dr mark stickney director of general surgery services at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences if there is a pet there already you will need to be prepared for dominance issues as the old pet will think it is the king of the house because of these dominance issues it is best to introduce your new puppy to your current dog on equal ground outside the home if possible this way the dogs can sniff each other out and get to know each other in an area where neither dog feels ownership notes stickney when you initially bring the puppy home try to do so when the older dog is out of the house and let the puppy explore for a while then you should confine the puppy to one room and let the old dog back in to sniff around and figure out that the puppy is there this process should really help get the dogs used to each other and in most cases is really fairly quick and easy states stickney however the process for acclimating cats to new kittens is slightly different as cats tend to have more problems adjusting to a new roommate with kittens you want to put them into their own room with food water and a litter box let the old cat and the kitten sniff each other through the door and over a couple of days to a week let them into more and more areas of the house making sure to supervise their first face-to-face visit unfortunately cats can be mean to a new cat for up to a year so you will need to be prepared for a long duration of family strife warns stickney if you are having a lot of trouble with your kitties getting along you can pick up a cat pheromone such as feliway at the pet store it resembles the pheromone they secrete when they are happy and should help to calm them weather you have another pet or not there are some things you will need to prepare for any new pet coming into the house water and food bowls food a collar and a bed would be a good start if you already have a pet it is important for your new pet to have its own separate food bowl and bed states stickney you should also feed them in separate areas so they dont compete for food one additional thing you should have if you are getting a puppy is a kennel it can aide in potty training and also give them a safe place to go just make sure you do not use the kennel for punishment reasons or they will no longer feel safe in it explains stickney cats like to climb and scratch so if you are bringing home a kitty it would be a good idea for your sanity and the fate of your furniture to have a scratching post and/or a cat tower you will also need a litter box and litter once you bring your new puppy home the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian the most important thing you can do for your new friend is to make sure they are healthy notes stickney as soon as possible take them to get a check-up any vaccinations they need and have them put on a heartworm preventative and flea control even once you have taken care of all their needs there is probably still going to be a period of adjustment new puppies and kittens are babies and can get scared and cry during the night or when you are not with them if your new pet is crying at night i would suggest giving them something that smells like you such as the shirt you wore that day suggest stickney ticking clocks and the stuffed bears that are made for infants that stimulate a heartbeat are also very effective in calming dogs and cats although it might be a process preparing for a new pet the rewards almost always outweigh the negatives if you start out right by making sure they are healthy and happy they very well might do the same for you pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

sleeping disorders in animals july 31 2009 maybe youve seen the comical home video on ‘youtube titled sleepwalking fail it is a short clip of a sleeping dog that starts to run horizontally in his sleep then suddenly jumps up and slams into a wall! although the video is seriously funny there is nothing funny about what might be wrong with this animal this dog could be dreaming although it unknown for certain if animals dream according to dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at texas a&m college of veterinary medicine most likely this animal is displaying signs of a sleep disorder sleeping disorders are not healthy and as with humans we see disturbed sleep patterns as a sign of old age disease or life-altering illness the two sleeping disorders that are most dangerous to an animals health are narcolepsy and cataplexy if your pet has one of these disorders and is left alone or unattended near water they could possibly drown narcolepsy is the occurrence of uncontrollable rapid eye movement (rem) sleep phase characterized by the presence of rapid eye movements and fast phase activity said crist cataplexy is the sudden development of rapid duration voluntary muscle weakness flaccidity or paralysis of all muscles except extraocular and respiratory muscles these two sleep disorders are usually a congenital and inherited condition that can be brought on by excitement such as playing eating drinking or greeting owners and can last seconds to minutes many times a day or infrequently warning signs of one or both of these sleeping disorders are the animal may suddenly collapse into lateral or sterna recumbancy with no movements with narcolepsy the animal appears asleep and with cataplexy the animal is alert but cant follow motion with eye movements the pet can be aroused with petting external stimuli and loud noises these disorders are not curable older cats may also experience behavior changes in sleep cycles or waking in the night restlessness and pacing this is either related to senility or a disease called hyperthyroidism hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces an excess amount of thyroid hormone which can lead to cardiac disease and high blood pressure said crist a specific thyroid blood test can be checked to verify this abnormality and treatment can be initiated melatonin an internal hormone secreted by the pineal gland during darkness can also be given as an oral supplement usually with minimal side effects as a potential treatment for sleep disorders of course there are several things that pet owners can do for their animals before their sleeping disorders become too severe if owners notice their pet having a change in their sleeping pattern they want to take them to their veterinarian for a complete physical examination and laboratory analysis said crist medical problems may contribute to these disturbances and some medicines may need to be prescribed by a veterinarian to help combat their sleep disturbance while melatonin has been useful for treating sleep disorders that arise from hypothyroidism senility or cognitive dysfunction said crist it is not regulated by the fda so ask a veterinarian the correct dose for your pet acupuncture and herbal medications are other modalities that might be used to treat sleep disorders in pets placing your pet on certain diets can also aid in their sleeping troubles omega 3 fatty acids and diets that are enriched with antioxidants are good for dogs with cognitive dysfunction and sleep issues said crist therapeutic diets supplemented with antioxidants such as vitamin c mixed tocopherols beta-carotene flavenoids carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids had dogs show improvement on the performance of cognitive tasks than dogs on a non-supplemented diet it will always be a true mystery whether or not pets dream in mammals and birds studies have shown that long episodes of nondreaming sleep referred to as slow-wave or sw sleep is followed by short episodes of dreaming sleep referred to as rapid-eye-movement or rem sleep said crist if a disturbance in this pattern occurs then sleeping problems can begin however we will never really know if pets dream because we cannot talk to them however we do know that dogs have the rem sleep phase and this is the dream activity period in people dogs do have leg movements facial twitching vocalizations and tail movements therefore it might be likely they are having a dream crist mentioned that it is important to know some sleep disorders require a lengthy behavioral consultation and examination by a veterinarian selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants should be prescribed for these dogs and cats who have diagnosed obsessive-compulsive behavior disorders that are disturbing their sleeping patterns she also reminded that by always taking our pets to the veterinarian for their regular check-up many potential problems can be caught before they seriously affect your pets health pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

socially acceptable! july 30 2009 have you ever taken a brand new puppy on its first walk or to a dog park with other dogs this can sometimes be a difficult undertaking seeing as puppies have yet to be exposed to many humans and animals in their young life but pets need to develop social skills just as much as people do! it is important for an animals health and well-being to become a socially acceptable pet the most important time for puppy socialization is before the age of 12 weeks said dr ma crist clinical assistant professor at texas a&m college of veterinary medicine puppies should be handled from birth and exposed to as many new animals people surroundings and stimuli without causing fear overstimulation or avoidance behavior puppies should be encouraged to survey and investigate their environments and these exposures should continue into adulthood to help maintain an outgoing and sociable dog many cats are easily afraid and spend a lot of time hiding and trying to avoid the things they are afraid of they also seem to have a lack of socialization and therefore social skills kittens should be socialized before the age of 9 weeks it seems that many cats are not well socialized noted crist what is meant by this is that during their sensitive period for socialization too many young cats are not exposed to a variety of people unfamiliar places and other animals so as adults they can be calm and friendly in a variety of situations but when confronted with unfamiliar circumstances they hide this lack of socialization results not only in a fear of unfamiliar people but also of anything that is new and different if there is a new baby in the family it is important to socialize your dog by introducing it to the new baby sometimes with the addition of a new family member in the household it can be a struggle to adjust to the new routine that typically results with the addition of the new arrival the pet will also have to become accustomed to new noises and smells sometimes practice with a life-like doll and recorded baby sounds will help prepare the dog said crist parents need to be mindful or how their dogs will travel with a baby carrier in the car even how they may or may not jump on the furniture or bed if an infant is present teaching the pet to wait for a command or invitation to jump on the furniture can help with this dogs must also tolerate a crawling baby when the baby begins to crawl it is important to expose your puppy to as many different appearances as possible to build the pets social skills; such as short tall bearded and short-haired people with skin of all different colors expose them to different sounds and smells and let them get used to people running walking skipping skating or other activities such as riding a bicycle most households have more than one pet so it is also important to introduce your current pet to the new pet in the right manner the trick with kitty harmony is to introduce the felines slowly said crist it is better to introduce your pets to each other gradually so that neither pet becomes frightened or aggressive do not force the cats to be together and do not allow interactions that cause fearful or aggressive behavior because this can become a habit and is difficult to change introducing a cat to a dog can be quite tricky as well dogs can kill a cat quickly crist adds once the new cat and dog have explored each others scents and are comfortable a controlled face to face meeting is allowed allow the cat an escape route and hiding place and always keep the dog and cat separated when you are not present until you are quite certain that your cat will be safe sometimes it is best to allow the kitten to become fully grown dog parks are sometimes a good tool for building a pets social skills but are controversial some dogs function well in these types of environments and others do not make sure your dog is completely vaccinated before entering the dog park said crist some dogs can become ill from the contaminated soil of dog parks and dogs with a poor immune system should not be exposed to it dogs can have their temperaments ruined become injured or even killed at dog parks by other dogs most problems reported in dog parks are not that common ones but would not exist at all if people would use their common sense by being careful and considerate pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print

preparing for pet emergencies july 24 2009 our pets are more than just animals; they are members of our families we rely on our pets for companionship just as they rely on us for love and care when a pet has an emergency or gets injured we are often left in a state of panic and chaos no one wants to think about the possibility of something awful happening to their pet states lucy wendt a registered veterinary technician at the texas a&m university college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences but planning ahead and being prepared can help a person function in a state of shock or stress having a plan of action in case your pet is somehow injured can not only help you get through the situation it could potentially save your animals life wendt recommends keeping multiple copies of your pets background information vaccination records medical history as well as the phone numbers of your veterinarian and nearby animal hospital in a convenient and accessible place if the animal hospital closest to you is not open make sure you have the number and location of the nearest 24-hour facility this way in the event of an emergency you can get to the documents and have the information you will need at your fingertips this will save precious time that could help to save your pets life having copies of the documents can also come in handy when you are leaving your pet in the care of someone else when you are leaving your pet think of it as leaving your child adds wendt what would you do if you had to leave them and give their care to someone else make sure you leave the caretaker with a set of the above referenced documents as well as a few additional important papers include a written affidavit that gives them permission to obtain medical treatment in case of an emergency phone numbers of where you will be and how to get in touch with you and the information of a place where your pet could be boarded if needed if you are traveling and decide to take your pet with you wendt suggests get the information for the closest emergency animal clinic to your destination twenty minutes is the farthest travel time you should allow for veterinary clinics and animal hospitals also take a copy of your ‘in case of emergency documents as well a few additional important papers if you are flying make sure you have the animals health certificate if you are driving out of state have a certified copy of your pets rabies vaccination certificate we can prepare for emergencies but we cannot control their outcome if your pet dies or suffers irreversible injuries and must be put to sleep knowing your options ahead of time can help ease the situation if you have a place to bury your pet do so recommends wendt if you do not have the land physical ability or emotional strength needed to bury your pet or you would prefer to have the animal cremated your veterinary clinic should have the contact information of a pet burial and cremation facility that can assist you a person can plan all they want but no one is ever ready when their pet faces an emergency situation or dies not only is it stressful it is devastating explains wendt though nothing can prepare us for these situations having a plan of action can help you function during traumatic events talk with your veterinarian about your emergency plans maintaining a good relationship with your veterinarian through the good times and the bad is extremely important for both you and your pet pet talk is a service of the college of veterinary medicine & biomedical sciences texas a&m university stories can be viewed on the web at vetmedtamuedu/news/pet-talk suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvmtamuedu angela g clendenindirector communications & public relationsofc – (979) 862-2675cell – (979) 739-5718 print